Human Rights and Prisons - Rethinking Crime and Punishment

across the penal estate (and within particular units), requires continual
examination and improvement.
5.2 Programmes
Law and policy framework
Section 52 of the Corrections Act states that rehabilitative programmes are to
be provided to all those sentenced prisoners who will benefit from them.
Access to programmes is, however, contingent on available resources and
Chief Executive Instruction.
Issues
Range of programmes
The Department offers a range of motivational and rehabilitation programmes
and courses for prisoners. At a nationwide level, these include:
Short Motivational Programmes – that assist prisoners to identify and
address their rehabilitation needs;
Tikanga Māori Programmes – that focus on developing Māori identity
and Māori practices among prisoners, to develop their awareness and
responsibility for their actions (its impact on themselves, their whānau,
hapū and iwi);
Kowhiritanga Programme for Women – to assist female prisoners to
examine the causes of their offending, and develop skills to prevent
reoffending. Available at Arohata, Christchurch Women‟s, and
Auckland Women‟s;
Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme – that helps male
prisoners to examine the cause of their offending and develop specific
skills to prevent them re-offending;
Short Rehabilitation Programme – that provides a condensed version
of the Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme or Kowhiritanga
programme, and can be accessed by male and female prisoners;
Parenting Skills course - to improve the ability of prisoners to effectively
parent their children;
Living Skills course – that targets the specific social or environmental
problems prisoners will face on release.
In addition, there are a range of specialist programmes that are offered within
specific prison locations. These include:
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