Human Rights and Prisons - Rethinking Crime and Punishment

Sex Offender Treatment Programme – directed to prisoners convicted
of sex offences against children. The group-based treatment can be
accessed by 60 prisoners at both Christchurch Men‟s (Kia Marama)
and Auckland (Te Piriti).
Availability and Scheduling
Issues around programme availability may reflect increased prisoner numbers
and the problems that prison staff face in accommodating more programme
participants; however, it also relates to the timeliness in which prisoners are
placed on programmes (such that prisoners may be placed on programmes in
the last third of their sentence, despite the fact that they may be parole-eligible
in the last two-thirds of their sentence) (The Ombudsmen‟s Office, 2007;
Human Rights Commission, 2009). As noted earlier, there are also issues
about programme availability for those serving shorter sentences. Generally,
these prisoners cannot access programmes.
Recent initiatives aim to address some of these barriers. The three new Drug
Treatment Units have been specifically targeted to short-serving prisoners
who have not previously been eligible for treatment by offering a shorter, but
equally intensive, three month programme. Employment opportunities have
also recently been expanded for higher security prisoners (Department of
Corrections, 2011).
As part of their sentence plans, prisoners are guided towards particular
programmes. Indeed, the completion of programmes is necessary in order to
be granted parole. One apparent issue relates to prisoner access to planned
programmes (particularly because of scheduling difficulties). The Human
Rights Commission is receiving an increasing number of approaches from
prisoners concerned that their inability to access certain programmes, prior to
their parole eligibility date and parole hearing, is impacting on their likelihood
of being granted parole.
Monitoring Effectiveness
One ongoing topic relates to the impact of these programmes on recidivism
rates. While a detailed analysis of evaluations cannot be given here, it is clear
that – within wider criminological and psychological literature – there remain
concerns about the benefits of nation-wide („one size fits all‟) programmes.
The key gains to be made, in terms of promoting non-offending behaviour,
appear to revolve around specific, intensive programmes that attend to the
particularities of individual prisoners, their needs and cultural backgrounds
(Department of Corrections, 2008, 2009f). These programmes need to be
delivered by specialist staff who have characteristics of empathy, respect,
confidence, and warmth – and who view „participants as “clients in need of
support” rather than “offenders in need of punishment”‟ (Department of
Corrections, 2009f:53; Newbold, 2008; Connolly and Ward, 2008). To
achieve positive outcomes, the staff and the programme need to enjoy high
levels of support, and programmes should include an „aftercare‟ phase, for the
released offender (Department of Corrections, 2009f).
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