Kyla
09-22-2004, 02:39 AM
Tongariro/Rangipo Prison
Background
The first prison camp, Hautu, was established in Turangi in 1922. Tongariro/Rangipo Prison, which lies near the southern boundary of the Hautu area, was founded in 1926 and became a separate entity in 1977.
The initial prison "camps" concept involved using prison labour in a farming, forestry or roading role. The viability of "the camps" was questioned due to difficulties during the early years, but today the camps are considered one of the Department's most valuable assets.
Currently the two farms within the prison perimeter comprise 2300 hectares of farmland and over 4300 hectares of forest and are managed by Corrections Inmate Employment.
The Tongariro/Rangipo complex consists of six units holding 422 adult male inmates. The complex also has a unit set up for illegal immigrants. There is one 60-bed low-medium unit which opened in April 2002. The other units are minimum-security and the majority of inmates come from the greater Auckland region.
Waikeria, Tongariro/Rangipo, and Ohura Prisons together form the Waikato/Central prison region.
Sentence management
The Department of Corrections provides a structured and integrated approach to managing offenders.
On arrival at prison, each inmate is assessed according to their risk of re-offending, the causes and influences of their offending behaviour, and their willingness to change. The assessment also looks at educational needs, health needs, special needs, and security risks.
A sentence plan is drawn up based on this assessment, focusing on giving the offender opportunities to break the cycle of re-offending. The plan may include programmes aimed at giving inmates the skills to deal with challenges they may face when they return to the community, such as budgeting, employment and relationships.
The process allows for the most appropriate form of intervention to be targeted to each offender. Interventions range from providing education and a career start for young offenders, to providing intensive programmes to those offenders motivated to address the causes of their offending.
Corrections has a strategy in place to minimise harm caused by drug use. The strategy aims to reduce the supply and demand of drugs in prison and the crime associated with it. To achieve the strategy, some of the methods used include visitor searches, vehicle checkpoints, use of drug dogs, a national 0800 JAILSAFE phone line, gathering crime related intelligence, liaison with the Police, and Alcohol and Drug inmate rehabilitation programmes.
All New Zealand prisons provide medical, dental, psychological and counselling services. Chaplains provide church services and Bible study groups.
Rehabilitation
A range of programmes has been developed either to improve motivation to change, address educative or employment needs or specifically address what drives an offender's offending behaviour.
The following programmes are offered at Tongariro/Rangipo Prison:
* Straight Thinking - designed to assist offenders to address one of the main causes of their offending - the lack of critical reasoning required to live effectively in society.
* National Certificate in Employment Skills (NCES) - designed to improve the basic literacy and numeracy levels of inmates.
* Adult Literacy.
* Tikanga Maori - designed to address re-offending from a Maori philosophy, values, knowledge and practices perspective.
Returning to the community
The Department believes the successful reintegration of offenders into the community provides the best protection for society. The Department aims to provide offenders with the skills, knowledge and confidence to live successfully in the community in order to reduce their likelihood of re-offending, and a range of reintegrative services is available.
Reintegrative needs are assessed at the start of an offender's sentence, and reviewed throughout. There are seven reintegrative objectives that can be planned for. These are:
* finding a job
* finding somewhere to live
* budgeting effectively
* managing relationships
* developing positive community support
* preventing victim-related problems
* keeping healthy.
There are three levels of assistance, with all offenders receiving "level one" self-help. This includes contact details of organisations that can help them re-settle once they have left prison, and access via case officers to a knowledge base. Some offenders will require greater support from their case officer, and further referral can be made to other specialist staff (e.g. a social worker) or external agencies (e.g. NZPARS) who can provide more in depth support and advice.
For those who do not have the skills to live independently on release, a further level of support is available through reintegrative programmes and/or living in self-care units. These are scheduled for near the end of their period in prison.
Three reintegrative programmes have been developed:
* Living Skills - a 36-hour broad-based programme to give offenders skills and knowledge across most reintegrative areas
* Budgeting Skills - a 10-hour group programme aimed at offenders with specific budgeting and money needs
* Parenting Skills - a 32-hour group programme designed to meet parenting skills needs.
While these programmes are not yet available at all prisons, it is anticipated they will be fully operational by 2004. All three programmes have been designed to meet the specific needs of Maori, Pacific Peoples, women and youth.
In addition to prison-based programmes, home leave, reintegration paroles and release to work are available prior to release. Every inmate is encouraged to have something to show for their efforts to increase the likelihood of gaining employment upon release. This may be certification in forestry and farming skills or a drivers licence.
Employment
Work is the major focus at Tongariro/Rangipo and all inmates are expected to work. Employment consists of deer, sheep and cattle farming. Manufacturing activities primarily cover timber processing which encompasses milling of logs from CIE-owned forest and further processing. A dog-roll processing plant also provides employment and skills to inmates.
Trade parties include plumbers, painters, carpenters, and mechanics. Work is also available in the kitchen, preparing meals for the inmates. Inmates receive a small incentive for the work they do.
Education
Contract tutors provide education services. Tutors enhance and follow up case management plans. Te Reo, remedial learning and computer awareness programmes are all pursued by inmates.
The National Certificate in Employment Skills is available to inmates at Tongariro/Rangipo Prison. This is a pre-employment qualification which offers learning in a range of work related skills, including basic literacy and numeracy. NCES is recognised by many industry areas throughout New Zealand. The focus is on improving the educational level of inmates to assist them in gaining future employment.
Special units
Maori Focus Unit
Te Hikoinga, the 5th Maori Focus Unit in the country, is modelled on the other successful Maori Focus Units at Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth, Rimutaka, and Waikeria prisons.
The goal of Maori Focus Units is for inmates to leave with positive objectives and improved skills for the future which reduce the likelihood of re-offending. The kaupapa of the units is to establish a culturally appropriate environment in which inmates can address issues relating to their offending.
Through the development of Maori values and disciplines, and the creation of Maori programmes, the units aim to bring about positive changes in thinking and behaviour. Whanau days are an important part of this as they help to foster a positive atmosphere in the unit and maintain a crucial contact between the inmate and their whanau.
Segregated Unit
Tongariro/Rangipo has two segregated units, for inmates considered unsuitable for the mainstream prison. Instilling a strong work ethic is a key focus of these units, as it is for all inmates at Tongariro/Rangipo.
General information.
Tongariro/Rangipo Prison
Private Bag 500
TURANGI
Telephone (07) 3861220
Fax (07) 3861221
Site Manager Jack Harrison
The prison is located on State Highway One. Turangi is 5 minutes from the main site. Inter city buses pass through Turangi at regular daily intervals.
Visiting times
Classification
Day
Time
Sentenced
Saturdays and Sundays
1pm - 3.30pm
Please note: Visitors should ensure that they have a visit time booked with the prison and a letter from the prison confirming this visiting time. Visitors arriving at the prison will be asked by staff to produce their letter of approval, sent prior to the visit, and a form of identification. Other arrangements to visit can be made in special circumstances. Staff may also ask to search a visitor's car, possessions or the visitor.
On occasions the prisons drug dog is used as an aid to detect drugs and other contraband being brought into the prison. All visitors are also required to produce proof of identity and may be required to undergo a search by an officer using a metal detector.
Background
The first prison camp, Hautu, was established in Turangi in 1922. Tongariro/Rangipo Prison, which lies near the southern boundary of the Hautu area, was founded in 1926 and became a separate entity in 1977.
The initial prison "camps" concept involved using prison labour in a farming, forestry or roading role. The viability of "the camps" was questioned due to difficulties during the early years, but today the camps are considered one of the Department's most valuable assets.
Currently the two farms within the prison perimeter comprise 2300 hectares of farmland and over 4300 hectares of forest and are managed by Corrections Inmate Employment.
The Tongariro/Rangipo complex consists of six units holding 422 adult male inmates. The complex also has a unit set up for illegal immigrants. There is one 60-bed low-medium unit which opened in April 2002. The other units are minimum-security and the majority of inmates come from the greater Auckland region.
Waikeria, Tongariro/Rangipo, and Ohura Prisons together form the Waikato/Central prison region.
Sentence management
The Department of Corrections provides a structured and integrated approach to managing offenders.
On arrival at prison, each inmate is assessed according to their risk of re-offending, the causes and influences of their offending behaviour, and their willingness to change. The assessment also looks at educational needs, health needs, special needs, and security risks.
A sentence plan is drawn up based on this assessment, focusing on giving the offender opportunities to break the cycle of re-offending. The plan may include programmes aimed at giving inmates the skills to deal with challenges they may face when they return to the community, such as budgeting, employment and relationships.
The process allows for the most appropriate form of intervention to be targeted to each offender. Interventions range from providing education and a career start for young offenders, to providing intensive programmes to those offenders motivated to address the causes of their offending.
Corrections has a strategy in place to minimise harm caused by drug use. The strategy aims to reduce the supply and demand of drugs in prison and the crime associated with it. To achieve the strategy, some of the methods used include visitor searches, vehicle checkpoints, use of drug dogs, a national 0800 JAILSAFE phone line, gathering crime related intelligence, liaison with the Police, and Alcohol and Drug inmate rehabilitation programmes.
All New Zealand prisons provide medical, dental, psychological and counselling services. Chaplains provide church services and Bible study groups.
Rehabilitation
A range of programmes has been developed either to improve motivation to change, address educative or employment needs or specifically address what drives an offender's offending behaviour.
The following programmes are offered at Tongariro/Rangipo Prison:
* Straight Thinking - designed to assist offenders to address one of the main causes of their offending - the lack of critical reasoning required to live effectively in society.
* National Certificate in Employment Skills (NCES) - designed to improve the basic literacy and numeracy levels of inmates.
* Adult Literacy.
* Tikanga Maori - designed to address re-offending from a Maori philosophy, values, knowledge and practices perspective.
Returning to the community
The Department believes the successful reintegration of offenders into the community provides the best protection for society. The Department aims to provide offenders with the skills, knowledge and confidence to live successfully in the community in order to reduce their likelihood of re-offending, and a range of reintegrative services is available.
Reintegrative needs are assessed at the start of an offender's sentence, and reviewed throughout. There are seven reintegrative objectives that can be planned for. These are:
* finding a job
* finding somewhere to live
* budgeting effectively
* managing relationships
* developing positive community support
* preventing victim-related problems
* keeping healthy.
There are three levels of assistance, with all offenders receiving "level one" self-help. This includes contact details of organisations that can help them re-settle once they have left prison, and access via case officers to a knowledge base. Some offenders will require greater support from their case officer, and further referral can be made to other specialist staff (e.g. a social worker) or external agencies (e.g. NZPARS) who can provide more in depth support and advice.
For those who do not have the skills to live independently on release, a further level of support is available through reintegrative programmes and/or living in self-care units. These are scheduled for near the end of their period in prison.
Three reintegrative programmes have been developed:
* Living Skills - a 36-hour broad-based programme to give offenders skills and knowledge across most reintegrative areas
* Budgeting Skills - a 10-hour group programme aimed at offenders with specific budgeting and money needs
* Parenting Skills - a 32-hour group programme designed to meet parenting skills needs.
While these programmes are not yet available at all prisons, it is anticipated they will be fully operational by 2004. All three programmes have been designed to meet the specific needs of Maori, Pacific Peoples, women and youth.
In addition to prison-based programmes, home leave, reintegration paroles and release to work are available prior to release. Every inmate is encouraged to have something to show for their efforts to increase the likelihood of gaining employment upon release. This may be certification in forestry and farming skills or a drivers licence.
Employment
Work is the major focus at Tongariro/Rangipo and all inmates are expected to work. Employment consists of deer, sheep and cattle farming. Manufacturing activities primarily cover timber processing which encompasses milling of logs from CIE-owned forest and further processing. A dog-roll processing plant also provides employment and skills to inmates.
Trade parties include plumbers, painters, carpenters, and mechanics. Work is also available in the kitchen, preparing meals for the inmates. Inmates receive a small incentive for the work they do.
Education
Contract tutors provide education services. Tutors enhance and follow up case management plans. Te Reo, remedial learning and computer awareness programmes are all pursued by inmates.
The National Certificate in Employment Skills is available to inmates at Tongariro/Rangipo Prison. This is a pre-employment qualification which offers learning in a range of work related skills, including basic literacy and numeracy. NCES is recognised by many industry areas throughout New Zealand. The focus is on improving the educational level of inmates to assist them in gaining future employment.
Special units
Maori Focus Unit
Te Hikoinga, the 5th Maori Focus Unit in the country, is modelled on the other successful Maori Focus Units at Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth, Rimutaka, and Waikeria prisons.
The goal of Maori Focus Units is for inmates to leave with positive objectives and improved skills for the future which reduce the likelihood of re-offending. The kaupapa of the units is to establish a culturally appropriate environment in which inmates can address issues relating to their offending.
Through the development of Maori values and disciplines, and the creation of Maori programmes, the units aim to bring about positive changes in thinking and behaviour. Whanau days are an important part of this as they help to foster a positive atmosphere in the unit and maintain a crucial contact between the inmate and their whanau.
Segregated Unit
Tongariro/Rangipo has two segregated units, for inmates considered unsuitable for the mainstream prison. Instilling a strong work ethic is a key focus of these units, as it is for all inmates at Tongariro/Rangipo.
General information.
Tongariro/Rangipo Prison
Private Bag 500
TURANGI
Telephone (07) 3861220
Fax (07) 3861221
Site Manager Jack Harrison
The prison is located on State Highway One. Turangi is 5 minutes from the main site. Inter city buses pass through Turangi at regular daily intervals.
Visiting times
Classification
Day
Time
Sentenced
Saturdays and Sundays
1pm - 3.30pm
Please note: Visitors should ensure that they have a visit time booked with the prison and a letter from the prison confirming this visiting time. Visitors arriving at the prison will be asked by staff to produce their letter of approval, sent prior to the visit, and a form of identification. Other arrangements to visit can be made in special circumstances. Staff may also ask to search a visitor's car, possessions or the visitor.
On occasions the prisons drug dog is used as an aid to detect drugs and other contraband being brought into the prison. All visitors are also required to produce proof of identity and may be required to undergo a search by an officer using a metal detector.