Human Rights and Prisons - Rethinking Crime and Punishment
Human Rights and Prisons - Rethinking Crime and Punishment
Human Rights and Prisons - Rethinking Crime and Punishment
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Report, it was highlighted that New Zeal<strong>and</strong> had a higher prisoner/frontline<br />
staff ratio than Australia, Canada, Engl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Wales, <strong>and</strong> Scotl<strong>and</strong>. During<br />
2005/06, the ratio of prisoners to full time equivalent frontline staff in New<br />
Zeal<strong>and</strong> was identified at 2.5:1. This is compared to recent rates of 1.9:1 in<br />
both Australia <strong>and</strong> Canada; 2.1:1 in Engl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Wales; <strong>and</strong> 1.5:1 in<br />
Scotl<strong>and</strong>. While such ratios are fraught with difficulties – in that how the data<br />
is collated varies from country to country (for instance, whether it includes<br />
administrative as well as frontline staff) – the issue of staffing levels remains<br />
important. The Department of Corrections (2009c) has since indicated that<br />
local ratio levels have dropped to approximately 2.3:1. This improvement will<br />
invariably decrease pressures on staff as well as prisoners.<br />
As the Department of Corrections (2008:23) has established, the Department<br />
operated at a level of high pressure on operations, with „significant quality<br />
degradation <strong>and</strong> considerable negative impact on staff‟ during 2005/06 <strong>and</strong><br />
2007. During this period, there were also times when the Department<br />
operated „at a high risk of failure, <strong>and</strong> a significant negative impact on staff‟.<br />
In this context, it is no surprise that – without the right support – staff can burn<br />
out, there can be high levels of absenteeism, <strong>and</strong> staff will leave. The top<br />
priority is, then, to recruit, train, nurture, promote, <strong>and</strong> improve prison<br />
personnel. Part of this approach is the need to build a professional culture of<br />
excellence within prison officer ranks.<br />
In New Zeal<strong>and</strong>, a number of initiatives have been undertaken to enhance the<br />
professional development of staff <strong>and</strong> to support them in gaining skills <strong>and</strong><br />
experience. These include:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Changes to staff selection processes, based on research into factors<br />
which predict reduced turnover <strong>and</strong> „high performance‟ as a<br />
Corrections Officer.<br />
A new year-long induction process, during which time the new<br />
employee will receive line-management support.<br />
Tactical Communications training, that provides prison officers with the<br />
skills to de-escalate situations by calming angry prisoners.<br />
Tailored development programmes for senior staff <strong>and</strong> managers, to<br />
enable them to manage their staff more effectively.<br />
Annual PRIDE awards <strong>and</strong> new recognition awards to acknowledge<br />
outst<strong>and</strong>ing conduct <strong>and</strong> professionalism.<br />
Improved, more relevant, staff training on ethics <strong>and</strong> integrity.<br />
Executive Scholarships, to support workers to complete advanced<br />
qualifications.<br />
The introduction of a major staff safety programme <strong>and</strong> Occupational<br />
Health <strong>and</strong> Safety Boards in all Correctional workplaces.<br />
These advances should be consolidated, <strong>and</strong> care taken to ensure that the<br />
drive for efficiences does not work against this professionalisation <strong>and</strong> safety<br />
of staff. Moreover, at a general level, fuller research on Correctional staff –<br />
including on their recruitment, training, conduct <strong>and</strong> culture – would be<br />
valuable in New Zeal<strong>and</strong>.<br />
111