Kyla
09-22-2004, 02:45 AM
Auckland Prison
Background
When Auckland Prison, New Zealand's only specialist maximum-security prison for male inmates, opened in 1968, it was one of the most modern institutions of its kind in the world.
To relieve crowding at other institutions, in particular Mt Eden, Auckland West division was added to house medium-security male inmates in November 1981.
Auckland Prison also has a minimum-security work and pre-release unit, a low medium security 60-bed unit, Te Mahinga, and a 60-bed special treatment unit for sex offenders, Te Piriti.
The average number of inmates at Auckland Prison is 640.
Auckland, Mt Eden and Mt Eden Women's Prisons together form the Northern Region.
Sentence management
The Department 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.
Behaviour Management Regime
Auckland Prison has a management regime, called the Behaviour Management Regime (BMR), for inmates who are classified maximum security, are held in Unit D and who actively pose a risk to staff and/or other inmates.
Phase 1 is the starting point for all 'BMR inmates' and the duration is a compulsory 14 days. While association with other inmates is restricted they may still communicate on the landings. Phase 1 is primarily an assessment phase.
From Phase 2 onwards, association with other inmates is increased as the inmate progresses from phase to phase, culminating in Phase 4. Privileges are also increased from phase to phase.
Once an inmate is placed in BMR there is a process for moving him out of that system by progression through the phases. Because of the reasons inmates are placed in BMR, there is also a high supervisory element required in their management and this is usually why they required a maximum security classification. Inmates behaviour and attitude are graded on a daily basis.
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 Auckland 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 and Numeracy.
* Substance Abuse - group-based treatment designed to address an offenders' substance abuse when it is one of the main contributing causes of their offending.
* Violence Prevention - group-based treatment for violent offenders.
* Sex Offending - group based therapy treatment for inmates convicted of sex offending against children.
* Tikanga Maori - designed to address re-offending from a Maori philosophy, values, knowledge and practices perspective.
Auckland Prison offers a Mahi Tahi tikanga programme, Te Hokinga Mai - the return home programme, and a Mau Rakau programme in disciplined taiaha training. It facilitates an art programme and programmes in kapa haka and Te Reo and also offers a tattoo removal service for inmates.
Returning to the community
Reintegrative services aim to provide offenders with the skills, knowledge and confidence to live successfully in the community, especially following imprisonment, in order to reduce their likelihood of re-offending.
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 (eg. a social worker) or external agencies (eg. 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
As part of their rehabilitation or reintegration needs, inmates can take part in various employment initiatives. At Auckland Prison, they include compost bagging, joinery, light engineering and textile manufacturing. On site industries include two nurseries, a garage, and the catering and laundry needs of the site.
Inmate labour is also supplied, under strict staff supervision, for outside community service projects. Release to Work opportunities are available to selected inmates who fulfil the legal requirements. Inmates receive a small incentive for the work they do.
Education
The prison provides a range of educational programmes for inmates with a team of full time tutors.
The National Certificate in Employment Skills is available to inmates at Auckland Prison. This is an NZQA 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
Te Piriti
Te Piriti is a 60-bed unit for child sex offenders, where an intensive nine-month therapy programme is run by the Department's Psychological Service.
The Maori name Te Piriti was chosen for this treatment unit as it represents a process of crossing over from the old to the new towards a better life.
Men who attend Te Piriti consent to undertake the group treatment programme to address their offending behaviour.
Special Needs Unit
The Special Needs Unit houses inmates with complex mental health needs who cannot be maintained in the general prison population. All inmates in this area are monitored to ensure their safety. Other resources include twice weekly visits by the Forensic team from Waitemata Health which is made up of a psychiatrist, forensic nurse and a social worker.
Inmates are on a structured daily plan which gives them the opportunity to be involved in a particular programmes or activities which are limited or simplified to meet the needs of the unit. The main focus is to provide inmates with motivation and stability through active management to either integrate them into the general prison population or ensure that they are given adequate support and appropriate supervision for their return to the community.
Medical
Auckland Prison provides the same health care as could be expected in the community, with on site nurses and contracted medical officers, physiotherapists and dentist.
General information
Auckland Prison
Private Bag 50124
AUCKLAND
Telephone (09) 413 9911
Fax (09) 413 9919
Site Manager Bryan Christy
Auckland Prison is located on Paremoremo Road, Albany. The prison is a 30 minute drive from the centre of Auckland. There is a bus on Saturdays from Auckland for inmate visitors. Contact the prison for details.
Visiting times
Classification
Day
Time
All inmates
Saturday and Sunday
9 - 11am and 1 - 3pm
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 prison's 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
When Auckland Prison, New Zealand's only specialist maximum-security prison for male inmates, opened in 1968, it was one of the most modern institutions of its kind in the world.
To relieve crowding at other institutions, in particular Mt Eden, Auckland West division was added to house medium-security male inmates in November 1981.
Auckland Prison also has a minimum-security work and pre-release unit, a low medium security 60-bed unit, Te Mahinga, and a 60-bed special treatment unit for sex offenders, Te Piriti.
The average number of inmates at Auckland Prison is 640.
Auckland, Mt Eden and Mt Eden Women's Prisons together form the Northern Region.
Sentence management
The Department 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.
Behaviour Management Regime
Auckland Prison has a management regime, called the Behaviour Management Regime (BMR), for inmates who are classified maximum security, are held in Unit D and who actively pose a risk to staff and/or other inmates.
Phase 1 is the starting point for all 'BMR inmates' and the duration is a compulsory 14 days. While association with other inmates is restricted they may still communicate on the landings. Phase 1 is primarily an assessment phase.
From Phase 2 onwards, association with other inmates is increased as the inmate progresses from phase to phase, culminating in Phase 4. Privileges are also increased from phase to phase.
Once an inmate is placed in BMR there is a process for moving him out of that system by progression through the phases. Because of the reasons inmates are placed in BMR, there is also a high supervisory element required in their management and this is usually why they required a maximum security classification. Inmates behaviour and attitude are graded on a daily basis.
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 Auckland 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 and Numeracy.
* Substance Abuse - group-based treatment designed to address an offenders' substance abuse when it is one of the main contributing causes of their offending.
* Violence Prevention - group-based treatment for violent offenders.
* Sex Offending - group based therapy treatment for inmates convicted of sex offending against children.
* Tikanga Maori - designed to address re-offending from a Maori philosophy, values, knowledge and practices perspective.
Auckland Prison offers a Mahi Tahi tikanga programme, Te Hokinga Mai - the return home programme, and a Mau Rakau programme in disciplined taiaha training. It facilitates an art programme and programmes in kapa haka and Te Reo and also offers a tattoo removal service for inmates.
Returning to the community
Reintegrative services aim to provide offenders with the skills, knowledge and confidence to live successfully in the community, especially following imprisonment, in order to reduce their likelihood of re-offending.
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 (eg. a social worker) or external agencies (eg. 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
As part of their rehabilitation or reintegration needs, inmates can take part in various employment initiatives. At Auckland Prison, they include compost bagging, joinery, light engineering and textile manufacturing. On site industries include two nurseries, a garage, and the catering and laundry needs of the site.
Inmate labour is also supplied, under strict staff supervision, for outside community service projects. Release to Work opportunities are available to selected inmates who fulfil the legal requirements. Inmates receive a small incentive for the work they do.
Education
The prison provides a range of educational programmes for inmates with a team of full time tutors.
The National Certificate in Employment Skills is available to inmates at Auckland Prison. This is an NZQA 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
Te Piriti
Te Piriti is a 60-bed unit for child sex offenders, where an intensive nine-month therapy programme is run by the Department's Psychological Service.
The Maori name Te Piriti was chosen for this treatment unit as it represents a process of crossing over from the old to the new towards a better life.
Men who attend Te Piriti consent to undertake the group treatment programme to address their offending behaviour.
Special Needs Unit
The Special Needs Unit houses inmates with complex mental health needs who cannot be maintained in the general prison population. All inmates in this area are monitored to ensure their safety. Other resources include twice weekly visits by the Forensic team from Waitemata Health which is made up of a psychiatrist, forensic nurse and a social worker.
Inmates are on a structured daily plan which gives them the opportunity to be involved in a particular programmes or activities which are limited or simplified to meet the needs of the unit. The main focus is to provide inmates with motivation and stability through active management to either integrate them into the general prison population or ensure that they are given adequate support and appropriate supervision for their return to the community.
Medical
Auckland Prison provides the same health care as could be expected in the community, with on site nurses and contracted medical officers, physiotherapists and dentist.
General information
Auckland Prison
Private Bag 50124
AUCKLAND
Telephone (09) 413 9911
Fax (09) 413 9919
Site Manager Bryan Christy
Auckland Prison is located on Paremoremo Road, Albany. The prison is a 30 minute drive from the centre of Auckland. There is a bus on Saturdays from Auckland for inmate visitors. Contact the prison for details.
Visiting times
Classification
Day
Time
All inmates
Saturday and Sunday
9 - 11am and 1 - 3pm
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 prison's 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.