C O R R E C T I O N S

SE

PT

EM

BE

R 2

017

Connect with CorrectionsFOLLOW US:

@correctionsNZ

Corrections NZ

Corrections Works is published quarterly by the Department of Corrections

Private Box 1206 Wellington 6140

P 04 460 3365

E commdesk@corrections.govt.nz

www.corrections.govt.nz

ON THE COVER: Otara Community Corrections Acting Senior Practitioner Liz O’Driscoll chats with an offender.

C O R R E C T I O N Sfrom our Chief Executive

This month in Corrections Works we look at a new alcohol and drug testing trial underway for offenders in the community (page 4). This is the first time we have had the legislation and equipment in place to test offenders with abstinence conditions for drug and alcohol use.

2

Ray SmithCHIEF EXECUTIVE

CONTENTSSEPTEMBER 2017

from our Chief Executive

4 When negative is positive

6 Wahine e rere ana ki te pae hou – Women’s Strategy 2017-2021

7 Health and safety win for Corrections

7 Academics tackle re-offending with evidence

8 Staff service on Pitcairn Island recognised

9 Research digest: highlights from the Corrections journal

10 Gaining trust helps learning happen

10 Yoga yields positive results

11 From our Minister

11 Rimutaka Prison Gate to Plate

12 Regional highlights

16 Safety first for staff in our prisons

Alcohol detection anklets and testing are being trialled across the Northern Region. It’s not just about holding offenders who use alcohol and drugs to account, it also means we can refer people to

get the help they need to address their substance abuse.Seven of our corrections officers recently returned

from working on one of the remotest islands in the Pacific (page 8). The officers were based on Pitcairn Island to provide custodial supervision of an offender at the request of the British Government. This is the second time we’ve been asked to provide services to Pitcairn, the last time was back in 2006-2009 when we had over 50 staff on the island monitoring six offenders.

Our coveted 2017 Rimutaka Prison Gate to Plate event (page 11) was more popular than ever; we even had a ballot for tickets this time around. Those who didn’t manage to get tickets had another chance to get a taste of what our prisoner chefs are capable of this year. Our catering instructors took charge of a caravan set up in Midland Park in Wellington selling prisoner-made meals to the bustling lunch crowd. When I went to visit the team an eager queue was stretching around the corner, with people lining up to buy a lunch prepared by prisoners. Not only were diners full of praise

for the food, they were keen to hear more about the work we do. We even had corrections officers and our recruitment team out encouraging people to consider working with us.

Thanks to our memorandum of understanding with the Department of Conservation (DoC), our community work crews have been doing their bit to save native kiwi, kokako, bats and other species in the Otanewainuku Forest (page 13). Offenders have been building predator traps that humanely kill unwanted pests in the forest. We have similar projects operating at over 65 sites nationwide as part of our Good to Grow partnership with DoC, it’s a great way for offenders to give back to local communities.

It was terrific to be on stage at the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards to receive Corrections’ award for best board level engagement (page 7). This has been an area of focus for me over the last three years, so it was good to have our robust health and safety practices recognised.

3CORRECTIONS WORKSDEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

+ Acting Senior Practitioner Liz O’Driscoll conducts a home visit with an offender with an abstinence condition.

WHEN NEGATIVE

is positiveA legislative change means in May

this year Corrections started a two-year trial of alcohol and drug testing of offenders (and defendants on bail) in the community.

4

Testing in the rest of the country?

The two-year trial of testing methods and frequencies is in the Corrections Northern Region only. However, high risk offenders with abstinence conditions across the rest of the country can be sent for urine or breath testing at the discretion of the relevant district manager. Alcohol detection anklets are only available as part of the two-year Northern Region trial.

+ Acting Senior Practitioner Liz O’Driscoll discusses the trial of alcohol and drug testing of offenders with a colleague.

Along with Police, we’re trialling different types of testing – including random urine testing, ‘reasonable grounds’ urine testing, and alcohol detection anklets – across the Northern Region.

Following the trial, an evaluation will determine the most effective testing technologies and testing frequencies to inform a national roll-out.

Corrections Works talks to Acting Senior Practitioner Liz O’Driscoll at Otara Community Corrections where testing has been in place since 16 May.

How’s the trial going in Otara?Really well! Now we can act on our suspicions, get a person

tested, and help stop harm occurring.I had a gentleman on my caseload who I suspected was using

methamphetamine. When I told him he could now be tested he was very anxious because he has a family he cares about. He started engaging with treatment and got a job. It definitely had a positive effect on him.

Not all offenders can be tested, can they?Only offenders or defendants on bail who are given an

abstinence condition by a court or the Parole Board can be tested. Probation officers (POs) recommend abstinence conditions when there’s a good reason why that person shouldn’t drink or take drugs, usually because it’s related to their offending.

How many offenders on your caseload have an abstinence condition?

On my caseload, there’s 14 out of 30. I have more than most because I work with a lot of recently released prisoners. Leaving prison is a high risk time because it’s stressful. People often initially return to their former social circles and may be encouraged to drink and take drugs.

What happens when someone tests positive?We make decisions based on risk, so it depends. For example,

we had a low-risk offender fail his first test due to cannabis. We sent him a warning letter, referred him to treatment, and he’s cleaned up his act. Coming down heavy on him is likely to have been counterproductive. On the other hand, I had an offender return a positive for methamphetamine, which was related to his offending (he’d been a dealer). He was recalled to prison and is still inside.

What support is available for offenders?POs have supportive conversations with offenders, we refer

them to treatment programmes, and there’s also the RecoveRing helpline (offenders can call 24/7 to speak to a counsellor). We also help in other ways. For example, one offender on my caseload had an old associate who kept trying to get him to drink. I issued a non-association order so the offender had a good excuse for avoiding that guy. That’s helped him stay sober. ■

Testing at two initial trial sites (Otara Community Corrections, and Manurewa Community Corrections) started on 16 May.

Testing across the Northern Region started on 1 September.

Alcohol detection anklets

For offenders with an abstinence condition for alcohol and a high risk of causing alcohol-related harm, an alcohol detection anklet may be a useful monitoring tool. Corrections and Police are using these anklets in the Northern Region as part of the trial.

“ I had a gentleman on my caseload who I suspected was using methamphetamine. When I told him he could now be tested he was very anxious because he has a family he cares about. He started engaging with treatment and got a job. It definitely had a positive effect on him.

5CORRECTIONS WORKSDEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Wahine – E rere ana ki te pae hou – Women’s Strategy sets out a new approach for how Corrections will manage women offenders.

Although small compared to men serving sentences, the number of women managed by Corrections (6,712 as of 30 June 2017) is increasing and this needs to be addressed. On top of this, many

women who offend are primary caregivers. If they receive the support they need to turn their own lives around, that will have a positive impact on their children, families and our communities.

The new Women’s Strategy was launched at Christchurch Women’s Prison on 28 August and includes changes in the treatment and management of women offenders in New Zealand.

The reason we need a distinct approach for women is that we know they have different experiences and needs than men. Departmental research has found that:

> relationships going wrong, lack of emotional and practical support and economic pressures shaped by their experiences are frequently triggers to women’s re-offending

> the way women see themselves, their future prospects, and their ability to respond to problems plays a key role in their ability to stop offending

> two-thirds of women in prison have suffered family violence, rape and/or sexual assault

> 52% of women in prison have post-traumatic stress disorder (compared to 22% of male prisoners)

> 68% of women in prison have been a victim of family violence

> three-quarters of women in prison have diagnosed mental health problems.

The strategy focuses on three key areas:1. Providing women with interventions and services

that meet their unique risks and needs.2. Managing women in ways that are trauma-informed

and empowering.3. Managing women in a way that reflects the importance

of relationships to women.

Good progress has already been made with the appointment of social workers and counsellors at women’s prisons, specific supported accommodation for women on EM bail and those released from prison, the pilot of a healthy relationships programme for women under 25, and the increase in delivery of women’s rehabilitation programmes.

Looking ahead, our people will be upskilled for working with women. There’ll be enhancements in the industry and education options we offer women and our programmes will be culturally responsive and women-specific, rather than just a replica of what male offenders receive. ■

Wahine e rere ana ki te pae hou – Women’s Strategy 2017-2021

“For a high proportion of women offenders their complex and entwined histories of severe trauma, mental health issues, substance abuse, unhealthy relationships and poverty have contributed to their offending.”

Chief Executive Ray Smith, from Women’s Strategy 2017-2021

6

A new expert panel brings together our in-house experts and external academics to help solve the challenges associated with reducing re-offending.

The Expert Academic Advisory Panel will review current research best practice, identify meaningful research opportunities and discuss ideas. Panel participants share the view that decisions about

programmes and interventions for offenders must be based on sound research.

At a workshop held in Wellington on 7 July, the 18 panel members, led by Deputy Chief Executive Jo Field, shared their particular area of interest in the criminal justice sector and defined what they see as their top three challenges for reducing re-offending.

“The coming together of Corrections and academia is a simple idea but an important one. We’re all aware of how challenging issues of crime and justice are, so by pooling our ideas and cooperating more closely we maximise the chances of gaining better understandings and positive outcomes,” says Sociologist Jarrod Gilbert.

The panel agreed on three areas to focus on: reintegration, research and data, and reducing the negative effect of involvement in gangs.

The panel will meet again in October. ■

Corrections has won the 2017 award for ‘best board level engagement’ in health and safety at the New Zealand Workplace Health & Safety Awards.

These are the biggest workplace health and safety awards of the year and celebrate the best initiatives. Corrections was a finalist alongside Air New Zealand.

Corrections has a unique risk profile; not only do we manage sometimes violent and volatile offenders and prisoners, we also use vans, trailers, forklifts, cranes, farm and forestry machinery. Our staff deal with dogs, pigs, cows, bees and hazardous chemicals. We run industrial kitchens, nurseries, light engineering and building sites. Alongside our 9,000 or so staff are many thousands of volunteers, contractors and staff from other agencies.

Improving health and safety across all our sites began at a senior level. Our Health and Safety Risk Governance Committee (HSRGC) is made up of the Executive Leadership Team and an independent health and safety expert. The committee has been meeting since October 2013, and over the last four years has reviewed almost every aspect of the organisation to see where we can improve processes and manage risks.Initiatives overseen by the HSRGC include:

> upgrading our vehicle fleet > upgrading security at our sites > introducing new de-escalation techniques,

personal protective equipment and the Physical Readiness Assessment for custodial staff (see back page)

> introducing Site Emergency Response Teams > introducing new processes for managing fatigue > working with contractors or third parties to ensure

the safety of all those we work with > implementing the Everyone Safe Every Day

strategy. ■

Corrections panel members include:

> Ray Smith, Jo Field, Peter Johnston, Neil Campbell, Juanita Ryan, Suzanne Kennedy, Nikki Reynolds, Neil Beales, Darius Fagan.

External panel members include:

> Mäori health and cultural adviser Meihana Durie Massey University

> Sociologist Jarrod Gilbert > Criminologists Tracey McIntosh and Greg

Newbold > Youth Justice Mark Henaghan Otago University > Psychologists Ian Lambie, Julia Ioane, Armon

Tamatea, Randy Grace, Devon Polaschek.

+ Receiving the award on 31 May at the SKYCITY Convention Centre. (L-R) Vince Arbuckle, Christine Stevenson, Cheryle Mikaere, Chris Fry, Ray Smith, Mike Cosman (Cosman Parkes Ltd), Jo Field, Neil Cherry, Carolyn van Leuven and Terry Johnson from Simpson Grierson.

Academics tackle re-offending with evidence

+ Expert Academic Advisory Panel members at their first meeting in July.

HEALTH AND SAFETY win for Corrections

7CORRECTIONS WORKSDEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Six of the seven staff deployed were presented with a Pacific Pin by Corrections Minister Hon. Louise Upston and a commemorative coin by British High Commissioner Jonathan Sinclair.

Corrections provided custodial services at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Pitcairn, on the remote British territory in the Pacific Ocean, for 10 months in 2016/17.

Corrections staff were first deployed to Pitcairn Island from 2006 to 2009 to monitor six offenders found guilty of sexually abusing children. The British Government requested a second deployment to provide custodial supervision for one prisoner for an additional 10 months in 2016/17.

“It’s a big ask to bring together a team to work in such an isolated place,” says National Commissioner Rachel Leota.

During their time on Pitcairn Island, the corrections officers also helped with community projects such as concreting the Alternative Harbour. The harbour was built to provide a second way of getting supplies and people on and off the island when Bounty Bay Harbour is unavailable due to high seas. There is no air service on Pitcairn Island due to its remoteness.

+ SCO Donald Windybank concreting the Alternative Harbour.

“In addition to their duties and the harbour work, the team took on other community projects in their free time to enrich the lives of all those living on the island,” says Rachel.

At the ceremony in Parliament from left to right: Team Leader and HMP Pitcairn Superintendent Craig Sweeny (Whanganui Prison), Prison officers HMP Pitcairn: David Jones (Auckland Prison), Greg Hall (Otago Corrections Facility), Simon Namana (Northland Region Corrections Facility), Donald Windybank (Northland Region Corrections Facility), and Jason King (Tongariro Prison). Absent: Kevin Martin (Whanganui Prison). Kevin received his pin at a separate event. ■

Staff service on Pitcairn Island recognised

The work of seven Corrections staff, who have returned from an overseas deployment to remote Pitcairn Island, was recognised recently.

8

Can we treat sex offenders who deny their offending?

We know how to treat sex offenders who accept responsibility for their behaviour. But what about those men who have been found guilty but who nevertheless continue to deny that they did anything wrong? Internationally, most prison-based sex offender treatment programmes won’t accept them. In New Zealand, staff work with these deniers, encouraging them to take responsibility and accept treatment. But some men remain adamant that they have not offended, and therefore remain untreated. To try to reduce the risk these men will pose on release, Corrections staff are developing a pilot programme for prisoners who are in denial but who are nonetheless willing to attend treatment.

What works in NZ correctional rehabilitation?

How do we know our rehabilitation programmes work? How do we know they’re as effective as those offered in other countries? And how do we know it was the rehabilitation programme that caused the change and not some other factor? New Zealand is the only country in the world that routinely measures and reports on the outcomes of all its correctional rehabilitation programmes. The process has major benefits, enabling the department to direct resources where we get the best results and discontinue programmes that are less effective. This article sets out some of the more important lessons that have been drawn from the results of these annual outcomes analysis exercises over the last 15 years.

NZ prisoners’ prior exposure to traumaThat many prisoners have had traumatic lives is hardly

news, but perhaps surprisingly, there’s limited evidence on the subject. This research measured the prevalence of different potentially traumatising events in the lives of New Zealand prisoners – and the results are sobering. For example, over three quarters of prisoners have experienced violence. Women experienced violence at slightly higher rates than men (81% compared to 77%), and more commonly experienced sexual and family violence. Fifty-two percent of female prisoners and 40% of male prisoners have a lifetime diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. Research of this kind helps inform how we treat and manage prisoners, and shows the importance of trauma-informed care. ■

RESEARCH DIGEST: highlights from the

Corrections journal

Full articles and more research are available in Practice: the New Zealand Corrections Journal in the Resources section on our website www.corrections.govt.nz

9CORRECTIONS WORKSDEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

A Howard League volunteer has been supporting prisoners at Christchurch Women’s Prison and Christchurch Men’s Prison Youth Unit with their literacy needs for over two years.

YOGA YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS

Wanting to see how yoga could better equip prisoners to make life-changing decisions led yoga teacher Te Maari Gardiner to

volunteer at Tongariro Prison.“Yoga can help the men learn to relax and

develop self-awareness,” says Te Maari. Te Maari has been teaching yoga for 17 years

and volunteering at Tongariro Prison for 16 months. “I’m a qualified Satyananda Yoga Teacher and

affiliated to the Yoga Education in Prisons Trust, which is a registered charitable trust providing yoga and meditation education for prisoners.”

Te Maari spends two hours a week in two units at Tongariro Prison. “Six to eight men attend each session. For most, the classes have been their introduction to yoga,” she says.

Classes begin with breath/body awareness, then warm-up and yoga postures followed by cooling down and relaxation.

“Curiosity brought them to their first class but most persevered. I enjoy seeing their progress; their stepping up to the challenge and making it their own.”

Feedback has been encouraging. “Some have told me how much better their back, neck or shoulders feel after, and that the yoga class is the highlight of their week. Most say they like how ‘chilled out’ they feel, and that night they have the best sleep.” ■

VO

LU

NT

EE

RS

Gaining trust helps learning happen

+ Volunteer Beverly Iremonger guides a young offender at the Christchurch Men’s Prison Youth Unit.

+ Volunteer Te Maari Gardiner leads a yoga class at Tongariro Prison.

Beverly Iremonger, a former nurse, had cared for a young man who had been in prison.

“He couldn’t read and this caused problems with his treatment and interactions with hospital staff,”

says Beverly. “After I retired, I wanted to do something different. When

I heard Mike Williams* on the radio talking about prisoners’ low literacy levels, how that adds to their offending and hinders their chance of getting a job, I thought I could help.”

Beverly currently has two students in the Youth Unit who she teaches twice a week for up to an hour and a half. She uses the Howard League literacy programme as a teaching guide, and tailors her teaching to the prisoner’s interests.

“I ask new students to write about their life, experiences and interests, or tell a story.”

Initially apprehensive about teaching literacy in prison, Beverly has learned to relax and enjoy the time with her students.

“Gaining their trust and seeing them achieve with a few laughs along the way is extremely rewarding,” she says.

“Most start lacking confidence and are sometimes defensive. Once I get their trust, learning happens. It’s the one-on-one time that makes the most difference.” ■

*Mike Williams is Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform.

10

From our MinisterAs we move well and truly into the second half of 2017, I’m pleased to see what we have achieved in Corrections this year.

+ Top chef Martin Bosley works with a prisoner during Visa Wellington on a Plate.

Rimutaka Prison Gate to Plate

August 2017 marked the fifth year Rimutaka Prison has welcomed stakeholders and paying guests to enjoy delicious gourmet fare as part of the Visa Wellington on a Plate festival.

Prisoners were mentored by Corrections catering instructors, celebrated chef Martin Bosley and two guest chefs, James Pask (Whitebait) and Kristan Mulcahy (Dillinger’s and Green Man).

Demand was so high, tickets had to be purchased through a ballot and the event was sold out. As in earlier years, evening dinners were prepared and served by prisoners to around 240 guests over three nights.

For the first time, three pop-up lunch events were held the following week. Food prepared by the same prisoners and sold from a caravan in Wellington’s Midland Park was snapped up by the locals.

Gate to Plate highlights the potential for prisoners to make positive gains in their lives as they work towards release back into the community. Achieving sought-after catering qualifications, and serving restaurant quality meals, will help them find sustainable employment giving them a better chance of living crime free lives.

“Dinner was totally delectable. It was a privilege to hear the men’s stories, see them having a purpose to their days and hope for a future on the outside,” says Jodi Mitchell, a dinner attendee. ■

I have visited 14 of the country’s 17 prisons, a number of Community Corrections sites, and I’ve spoken to staff and offenders.The days of locking up people and

throwing away the key are long over. That is why Corrections puts a huge amount of resources into the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.

There is a natural fit between Corrections and my portfolio responsibilities in Associate Education, Associate Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment and Associate Primary Industries.

I’m passionate about education, skills and training. They are key to individual success and the success of our country, socially and economically.

The aspirations of people in Corrections’ care should be no different to those of everyone else. We all want a secure income and a place to live. But we recognise that some people are going to need more help to achieve those aspirations.

That’s why this Government and Corrections will continue to focus on rehabilitation and reintegration.

Corrections has a number of programmes designed to give offenders a chance at turning their lives around. This was recently given a boost in the Budget with an extra $18.6m for industry, training and support programmes in prisons.

There is a degree of personal responsibility needed here but Corrections has worked hard in recent years to tailor programmes suited to individuals, designed to help them lead better, crime-free lives when they are released.

I thank Corrections staff, and volunteers, for your continuing hard work in helping offenders achieve these goals. ■

Hon. Louise UpstonMINISTER OF CORRECTIONS

11CORRECTIONS WORKSDEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

MUSICAL MAHI BEARS SWEET RESULTS

+ (L-R) Programme Leader Foundation Phil Oxenham, a graduate receiving her certificate from TPP Chief Executive Alex Cabrera, and ARWCF Prison Director Cheryle Mikaere.

+ Manurewa Service Manager Marua Kutu (second from right) and Community Corrections staff perform a traditional Cook Islands dance.

Reg

ion

al H

igh

ligh

ts

Nor

ther

n

regionalHIGHLIGHTS

Ten women graduated from the Music Creation course at Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility (ARWCF) in July.

Part of the Foundation Sound and Music programme, the course is delivered by MAINZ, a faculty of Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP).

Performing songs they’d composed themselves, the graduates entertained a supportive audience of prisoners, Corrections’ staff and external visitors, including TPP Chief Executive Alex Cabrera.

“The waiata encapsulated the wahine’s stories, with words that came from the heart,” says ARWCF Prison Director Cheryle Mikaere.

“After 17 weeks of hard-out mahi, our graduates shared their personal journeys, not only about the past and the present, but also the future – celebrating the skills, talent, passion and motivation they’ll take with them when they’re released.”

“We had the best time,” said one of the graduates. “I love music and singing. I hope I can continue studying when I leave prison.”

MAINZ Programme Leader Foundation Phil Oxenham says the programme is designed to give students core foundational skills in music.

“The course teaches a range of basic skills, including live sound and recording, song writing, decoding and deconstructing lyrics, music history, audio engineering, and performance,” says Phil. ■

LANGUAGE WEEK SHOWCASES DIVERSITY

In August, Cook Islands Language Week celebrations at Manurewa Community Corrections attracted the attention of Radio 531pi, which serves Pasifika communities throughout New Zealand.Manurewa Service Manager Marua Kutu and two

probation officers were interviewed live on air by Radio 531pi in two programmes about Community Corrections, and the importance of staff being able to communicate in offenders’ mother tongues.

Marua is of Tongan-Cook Islands descent and is fluent in Tongan.

“Listeners’ responses were fantastic,” says Marua, who also took questions from listeners who phoned in.

Marua explained in Tongan what the work of Community Corrections entails. She also highlighted Corrections’ recruitment drive, and asked listeners to visit our frontline jobs website.

“South Auckland is one of the most ethnically diverse communities in Auckland, if not New Zealand, and migrant communities in the area are growing,” says Marua.

Corrections staff find speaking someone’s language helps to establish trust and a connection, not only with the offender, but also with his or her family.

Almost seven per cent of the New Zealand population identifies as Cook Islands Mäori, and after Samoan, Cook Islands Mäori is the most spoken Polynesian language. ■

12

WAIKERIA PRISON KITCHEN SERVES UP A FRESH START

For over 25 years, Waikeria Prison’s catering unit has not only been serving meals to prisoners, they have been helping prisoners attain the experience and qualifications needed to succeed on the outside.

“What they learn in the kitchen extends well beyond how to cook safe, flavoursome food,” says Industries Manager Wiremu Jensen. “Prisoners also learn about having a work ethic and how to work as part of a team, which for some is a new experience.”

Through the catering unit, prisoners can attain levels two, three and four in hospitality, the same qualifications held by many chefs working in restaurants and hotels.

These qualifications, combined with experience in food preparation, exposure to a wide range of cooking techniques, quality control, storage and presentation, mean that prisoners can walk out and make a fresh start.

Four former prisoners have done just that. One is now a tutor at a private training establishment that runs hospitality courses, another owns a catering business, a third has a full time assistant chef position in a café, and a fourth has his own food truck.

350 TRAPS FOR OTANEWAINUKU FOREST

Region

al High

lights

Cen

tral

Northern Central Lower North Southern

A partnership between Corrections, Department of Conservation (DoC) and the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust

will help save native species in the Otanewainuku Forest.

Around 10 Bay of Plenty community offenders recently constructed 72 predator traps to help manage pests in the 1,200 hectare forest. They have worked on this project for two to three days per week, over a two week period. The offenders are now constructing a further 280 traps.

Tauranga Lead Service Manager Mark Nijssen says, “Otanewainuku is home to over 300 native plant species,

along with kiwi, kokako, native bats, North Island robin and tree weta. The traps are designed to humanely kill ferrets, stoats, rats and hedgehogs to help protect native flora and fauna.”

Protecting Otanewainuku, which means ‘the many waters that spring forth from the domain of Tane’, led to the formation of the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust in 2002. The Trust operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with DoC who administers the land and gives advice on pest control.

Mark is talking to the Trust about getting community work crews to help lay bait and check traps to further assist pest eradication efforts. ■

+ Predator traps will help protect our native kiwi.

+ The Coffee Shed where prisoners do their barista training at Waikeria Prison.

The prison’s kitchen produces over 2,000 nutritious meals a day. As well as running a commercial kitchen, prisoners are taught fine dining and preparation of café style food. Barista training is also provided.

“The kitchen employs about 35 prisoners a day,” says Wiremu. “Since the catering unit started in 1991, thousands of prisoners have gained experience and qualifications so they can make a fresh start in the hospitality industry.” ■

13CORRECTIONS WORKSDEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

regional HIGHLIGHTSR

egio

nal

Hig

hlig

hts

L

ower

Nor

th

SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION RESULTS IN PARTNERSHIP AWARD

Wellington District Community Corrections recognised its partners in the Alcohol Impairment Education Programme (AIEP) with a Community Partnership Award recently.

Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and Upper Hutt City Council’s Road Safety Team are partners in the programme with Corrections that delivers a sobering message to offenders.

“The award recognises the ongoing support of our partners in delivering this programme to offenders in the Wellington district,” says District Manager Sue Abraham.

AIEP is a one-day motivational and educational programme aimed at preventing driver impairment and encouraging sensible decision-making. It encourages good decision-making around drinking and driving and an understanding of the ‘ripple effect’ poor decision-making can have on families and communities.

Offenders participate in activities while wearing goggles that simulate being under the influence. They talk to Police, fire fighters, a mortician, and a council’s road safety team, and see and hear about the consequences of driving after drinking or drug-taking.

“The visual impact of the programme makes offenders realise they don’t want to become another drink-driving fatality,” says Sue.

The first programme in the Wellington district was held in February 2016. Around 80 offenders have participated to date, including 20 women in Arohata Prison’s Drug Treatment Unit where it was introduced to the prison for the first time in July. ■

+ BRUTHAS designed ‘Just Boards’, a unique set of wooden boards that can be used as a chopping board or serving platter.

+ Corrections staff with Community Partnership Award recipients. Holding awards (L-R): Henry Stechman, Fire and Emergency New Zealand; Inspector Tracey Thompson, Kapiti Mana Area Commander, NZ Police; Catherine Pulford, Upper Hutt City Council Road Safety Team.

JUST BOARDS MORE THAN BOARDS

It’s not every day a product launch is held behind bars, but that’s where the BRUTHAS, a team of five youth prisoners in Hawkes Bay Regional

Prison and six pupils from St John’s College Hastings, held the launch of their innovative ‘Just Boards’ product.

As part of the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES), BRUTHAS designed a unique set of wooden boards that can be used as a chopping board or serving platter.

Made from recycled rimu, each set consists of four boards that interlock like a jigsaw and resemble a waka. Each set comes inside an upcycled coffee sack with a drawstring tie.

The team made prototype boards, conducted market research, crunched numbers on production costs vs projected sales, prepared a business

plan, and presented it to business mentors and YES project judges in a Dragon’s Den-style format.

The project’s about more than making boards: it’s about collaboration and camaraderie.

Speaking after the launch in the prison’s Te Tirohanga Unit, youth prisoner ‘CEO’ Don* said, “It was a great experience because getting involved with people that have their freedom motivated us to achieve more and aim high. St John’s played a good role in this project and I’m thankful to have been part of it.”

Boards have been sold at local cafes and the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ market. Orders for the boards have exceeded supply. ■

*not his real name

14

PILOT IMPROVING SENTENCE COMPLIANCE

Seven months into a youth offender initiative in Dunedin, Corrections staff are seeing a big improvement in compliance from local youth offenders.

The Otago Community Work Pilot began in February. It recognises that youth are different from adult offenders, and aims to better engage them in their sentences, and help them gain the skills and desire to make better decisions.

Beginning with the development of a youth-only community work team, the initiative has grown to include Work and Living Skills opportunities and employment conversations specific to the interests of the young people.

“It’s vitally important we work as a community to get youth offenders through their sentences and making more positive life choices,” says Corrections Dunedin Service Manager and Youth Champion Cathryn Elsworth.

Youth form a disproportionate part of the offender population. Corrections manages around 40,000 offenders every year, and 7,500 are under 24. Young people re-offend at a higher rate and more serious level than any other group we manage.

Otago Probation Officer and ex-All Black Paul Miller provided an excellent mentoring opportunity. He took five youth offenders to watch the Highlanders do their captain’s run (training session run by the captain the day before the game) and meet some of the players.

“Hearing the Highlanders speak to the young offenders about their personal goals was very powerful,” says Paul. “The young people left feeling inspired, and talking about their goals and how to achieve them.” ■

+ Principal Instructor Tony Russell in the dairy shed.

+ Dunedin youth offenders inspired after talking to rugby role models.

FONTERRA RECOGNISES PRISON DAIRY FARM

In July, Fonterra recognised the efforts of instructors and prisoners working on the dairy farm at Otago Corrections Facility (OCF) with a certificate of achievement. The certificate was for ‘low somatic cell count’

which is a measure of milk quality or purity. The farm was ranked 137th out of over 10,000

suppliers and finished in the top one percentile of farms that supply Fonterra.

“This is a significant achievement for the prisoners working on the farm, the farm team and the prison as a whole,” says OCF Principal Instructor Dairy Tony Russell.

“We’re a training farm, teaching prisoners employable skills they can use to maintain a crime free life on release.”

Over the past five to six seasons, staff at the prison have put a considerable amount of work into the dairy skills of the men on the farm and the stock programme.

“Most of the work on the farm is done by around five prisoners, most of whom have had nothing to do with farming before,” says Tony.

Acting Prison Director Lyndal Miles says the whole site is incredibly proud.

“We’re delighted that Fonterra has recognised our farm’s excellence in animal health practices and ongoing commitment to milk quality,” says Lyndal.

“Corrections is giving people employable skills and work aptitudes. We’re keen to find opportunities with employers who’re willing to offer a second chance to offenders.” ■

15CORRECTIONS WORKSDEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Reg

ion

al H

igh

ligh

ts

Sou

ther

n

Corrections Works is published quarterly by the Department of Corrections.Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140, New Zealand Phone 04 460 3365 Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz

C O R R E C T I O N S

@correctionsNZ Corrections NZ

The paper stock this document is printed on is FSC certified and considered to be one of the most environmentally adapted products on the market. Containing fibre sourced only from responsible forestry practices, this sheet is ISO 14001 EMS accredited and made with elemental chlorine free pulps.

SAFETY FIRST FOR STAFF IN OUR PRISONS We’re doing our best to ensure custodial staff stay safe on the job.

De-escalation training: If a prisoner is angry or upset, our first option is to talk them down and try and help them work through the issues. Our recruitment process selects staff with good interpersonal skills, and staff are further trained in de-escalation techniques.

Knowledge of issues: Our Prison Tension Assessment Tool means all staff are made aware of known issues and tensions before they start their shift.

On body cameras: Telling a prisoner you’re recording them can dramatically improve their behaviour. Staff in high risk environments now wear on body cameras. A 2014 trial found that wearing cameras reduced the rate of incidents by 15-20%. To date, 912 cameras have been deployed.

Stab resistant body armour: Custodial staff can sometimes be at risk of injuries because they have to intervene in prisoner on prisoner fights or defend themselves against violence, which can sometimes feature home-made weapons. Stab resistant body armour was introduced in 2015.

Radio: The ability to maintain effective and clear communication with colleagues is an essential safety strategy.

Pepper spray: Sometimes all the de-escalation in the world doesn’t stop a prisoner being violent or refusing to obey a lawful order. Pepper spray has been available in prisons since 2011, but only as part of a planned response and staff had to collect it from a central place. From July 2017 we began deploying pepper spray to selected trained custodial staff to wear as they go about their duties and deploy, if needed, in a spontaneous incident. Pepper spray is a proven effective way to stop a prisoner safely and fast.

Slash proof gloves: Common contraband in prisons includes sharp items such as home-made tattoo-guns and weapons. These gloves keep staff safe from stab injuries during searches.

Physically ready and alert: Our Physical Readiness Assessment ensures all staff are fit enough to respond quickly in an emergency and help keep their colleagues safe. Our Fatigue Project is helping to ensure staff get enough rest and enough time off shift to recover.

+ Senior Tactical Operations Adviser Rob Hoogenraad in a de-escalation stance wearing Corrections’ current safety measures.