Kyla
09-22-2004, 02:40 AM
Waikeria Prison
Background
Waikeria Prison is a prison for male minimum and medium security inmates, located 16 kilometres south of Te Awamutu, in the Waikato/Central region.
Accommodating up to 877 inmates, Waikeria is New Zealand's largest prison. The prison is encompassed by a 1,200 hectare site.
The prison receives sentenced and remand male offenders directly from the courts in the region. It can accommodate up to 720 inmates in the minimum-medium security complexes and up to 185 remand inmates.
During its history, Waikeria Prison has performed many roles. The prison was established prior to World War I as a reformatory, which placed emphasis on vocational training and industrial employment.
The prison later became a male borstal and centre for younger prisoners and continued in this role until borstal training was abolished in 1981.
New Zealand's first detention centre was established at Waikeria in 1961. From the Mt Eden Prison riot in 1965 to the commissioning of Auckland Maximum Security Prison in 1969, part of Waikeria was used as a maximum security facility. Waikeria became a youth institution following the abolition of borstal training and a prison since the enactment of the Penal Institutions Amendment Act 1985.
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.
A Maori Focus Unit at Waikeria Prison focuses on addressing causes of offending and planning for a positive future within a culturally appropriate environment.
The prison's Youth Unit focuses on addressing causes of offending and re-offending of vulnerable young male inmates in a safe and appropriate environment.
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 Waikeria 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
* Substance Abuse programmes - designed to address an offender's substance abuse when it is one of the main contributing causes of their offending
* Violence Prevention - group-based programme for violent offenders
* Maori culture-based programmes - a number of programmes, aiming to create a change in offenders' lifestyles in and after prison by discovering and recovering traditional Maori principles, values and disciplines, are available at the prison
* Te Reo programmes - learning Maori language
A separate fact sheet on programmes for offenders is available.
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.
Employment
Inmates at Waikeria Prison have the opportunity to take part in various inmate employment initiatives including market gardening, fruit growing and dairy farming at the prison's large farm. Other on-site industries include baking, tailoring, joinery, laundry, kitchen, milk pasteurisation, painting, welding, electrical, carpentry, plumbing and garage skills.
These enterprises increase the prison's ability to be self-sufficient and in some instances generate external revenue. This in turn helps reduce the operating costs of the prison. Inmates receive a small incentive for the work they do.
Education
A co-ordinator, three full-time tutors, a part-time carving tutor, a volunteer remedial reading tutor and a librarian are available at Waikeria to assist inmates with their basic educational needs.
The National Certificate in Employment Skills is available to inmates at Waikeria 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
Youth Unit
Waikeria's Youth Unit opened in June 2000. The unit is one of seven regional specialist youth units being built to accommodate youth under 17 and those aged 17-19 who have been assessed as vulnerable.
The Youth Unit is part of the Department's strategy to address problems relating to the safe, humane containment and re-offending of vulnerable young male inmates.
Maori Focus Unit - Te Ao Marama
The goal of the Maori Focus Unit, Te Ao Marama, is for inmates to leave with positive objectives and improved skills for the future which reduce the likelihood of their re-offending.
The kaupapa of the units is to establish a culturally appropriate environment in which inmates can address issues relating to their offending. The key to this is establishing a tikanga Maori environment in which inmates can face the issues that led to their offending.
Through the practice of Maori values and disciplines, and the creation of Maori programmes, the unit aims to bring about positive changes in thinking and behaviour.
The unit also has a carving centre, where inmates develop carving skills and work individually or collectively on projects.
At Risk Unit
The At Risk Unit, known as the Kotuku Unit, holds 29 inmates who have been assessed as at risk of attempting suicide or self-harm. All inmates are assessed at entry into the prison and those identified as potentially at risk are further assessed at the Kotuku Unit where they may stay. All staff in this unit have received special training.
Future plans
A redevelopment project is in progress at Waikeria Prison. A new administration building to accommodate regional and local prison administration staff was recently completed.
New visits/entry, health services and inmate receiving facilities are currently being constructed, and should be complete by the end of 2003.
The project also involves the refurbishment of the accommodation areas within the three medium security prison wings, which is expected to be completed in mid 2005.
General information
Waikeria Prison
Private Bag 2400
TE AWAMUTU
Telephone (07) 871 1704
Fax (07) 871 1743
Site Manager Gavin Dalziel
Waikeria is situated 16km south of Te Awamutu. Visitors are required to travel by private transport as there is no regular public bus service to the institution.
The Prisoners' Aid and Rehabilitation Society provides a bus service to Waikeria from Hamilton each Sunday and from Auckland on the last Sunday of each month. Contact PARS Tel (07) 839 3531.
Visiting times
Classification
Day
Time
Remand
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9am -11am, 1pm - 3pm
1pm - 3pm
9am -11am, 1pm - 3pm
Kotuku Unit
Saturday
Sunday
(segregated inmates only)
9am -11am
9am -11am
Central North
Sunday
12.30pm - 3.00pm
Central South
Saturday
1pm - 3pm
West South Unit
Thursday
(new arrivals)
9am - 11am
West North Unit
Sunday
(sentenced segregated inmates only)
1pm - 3pm
Minimum Units
Saturday and Sunday
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 indentification. 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 prison's drug dog is used as an aid to detect drugs and other contraband being brought into the prison. Visitors may be required to undergo a search by an officer using a hand scan.
Background
Waikeria Prison is a prison for male minimum and medium security inmates, located 16 kilometres south of Te Awamutu, in the Waikato/Central region.
Accommodating up to 877 inmates, Waikeria is New Zealand's largest prison. The prison is encompassed by a 1,200 hectare site.
The prison receives sentenced and remand male offenders directly from the courts in the region. It can accommodate up to 720 inmates in the minimum-medium security complexes and up to 185 remand inmates.
During its history, Waikeria Prison has performed many roles. The prison was established prior to World War I as a reformatory, which placed emphasis on vocational training and industrial employment.
The prison later became a male borstal and centre for younger prisoners and continued in this role until borstal training was abolished in 1981.
New Zealand's first detention centre was established at Waikeria in 1961. From the Mt Eden Prison riot in 1965 to the commissioning of Auckland Maximum Security Prison in 1969, part of Waikeria was used as a maximum security facility. Waikeria became a youth institution following the abolition of borstal training and a prison since the enactment of the Penal Institutions Amendment Act 1985.
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.
A Maori Focus Unit at Waikeria Prison focuses on addressing causes of offending and planning for a positive future within a culturally appropriate environment.
The prison's Youth Unit focuses on addressing causes of offending and re-offending of vulnerable young male inmates in a safe and appropriate environment.
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 Waikeria 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
* Substance Abuse programmes - designed to address an offender's substance abuse when it is one of the main contributing causes of their offending
* Violence Prevention - group-based programme for violent offenders
* Maori culture-based programmes - a number of programmes, aiming to create a change in offenders' lifestyles in and after prison by discovering and recovering traditional Maori principles, values and disciplines, are available at the prison
* Te Reo programmes - learning Maori language
A separate fact sheet on programmes for offenders is available.
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.
Employment
Inmates at Waikeria Prison have the opportunity to take part in various inmate employment initiatives including market gardening, fruit growing and dairy farming at the prison's large farm. Other on-site industries include baking, tailoring, joinery, laundry, kitchen, milk pasteurisation, painting, welding, electrical, carpentry, plumbing and garage skills.
These enterprises increase the prison's ability to be self-sufficient and in some instances generate external revenue. This in turn helps reduce the operating costs of the prison. Inmates receive a small incentive for the work they do.
Education
A co-ordinator, three full-time tutors, a part-time carving tutor, a volunteer remedial reading tutor and a librarian are available at Waikeria to assist inmates with their basic educational needs.
The National Certificate in Employment Skills is available to inmates at Waikeria 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
Youth Unit
Waikeria's Youth Unit opened in June 2000. The unit is one of seven regional specialist youth units being built to accommodate youth under 17 and those aged 17-19 who have been assessed as vulnerable.
The Youth Unit is part of the Department's strategy to address problems relating to the safe, humane containment and re-offending of vulnerable young male inmates.
Maori Focus Unit - Te Ao Marama
The goal of the Maori Focus Unit, Te Ao Marama, is for inmates to leave with positive objectives and improved skills for the future which reduce the likelihood of their re-offending.
The kaupapa of the units is to establish a culturally appropriate environment in which inmates can address issues relating to their offending. The key to this is establishing a tikanga Maori environment in which inmates can face the issues that led to their offending.
Through the practice of Maori values and disciplines, and the creation of Maori programmes, the unit aims to bring about positive changes in thinking and behaviour.
The unit also has a carving centre, where inmates develop carving skills and work individually or collectively on projects.
At Risk Unit
The At Risk Unit, known as the Kotuku Unit, holds 29 inmates who have been assessed as at risk of attempting suicide or self-harm. All inmates are assessed at entry into the prison and those identified as potentially at risk are further assessed at the Kotuku Unit where they may stay. All staff in this unit have received special training.
Future plans
A redevelopment project is in progress at Waikeria Prison. A new administration building to accommodate regional and local prison administration staff was recently completed.
New visits/entry, health services and inmate receiving facilities are currently being constructed, and should be complete by the end of 2003.
The project also involves the refurbishment of the accommodation areas within the three medium security prison wings, which is expected to be completed in mid 2005.
General information
Waikeria Prison
Private Bag 2400
TE AWAMUTU
Telephone (07) 871 1704
Fax (07) 871 1743
Site Manager Gavin Dalziel
Waikeria is situated 16km south of Te Awamutu. Visitors are required to travel by private transport as there is no regular public bus service to the institution.
The Prisoners' Aid and Rehabilitation Society provides a bus service to Waikeria from Hamilton each Sunday and from Auckland on the last Sunday of each month. Contact PARS Tel (07) 839 3531.
Visiting times
Classification
Day
Time
Remand
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9am -11am, 1pm - 3pm
1pm - 3pm
9am -11am, 1pm - 3pm
Kotuku Unit
Saturday
Sunday
(segregated inmates only)
9am -11am
9am -11am
Central North
Sunday
12.30pm - 3.00pm
Central South
Saturday
1pm - 3pm
West South Unit
Thursday
(new arrivals)
9am - 11am
West North Unit
Sunday
(sentenced segregated inmates only)
1pm - 3pm
Minimum Units
Saturday and Sunday
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 indentification. 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 prison's drug dog is used as an aid to detect drugs and other contraband being brought into the prison. Visitors may be required to undergo a search by an officer using a hand scan.