The coalition Government has taken the first steps to ensure prisoners on remand can access the rehabilitation and reintegration support they need to turn their lives around, says Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell.
“The number of people on remand has increased by 146 per cent over the past 10 years. With almost 45 per cent of the prison population now on remand, the corrections system needs to adapt to support their needs so we can reduce re-offending and keep the public safe.
“That's why, as part of this Government's 100-day plan, we are taking steps to make it explicit in the Corrections Act 2004 that prisoners who are on remand and convicted of a crime will be provided with rehabilitation that helps address the causes of their offending.
Basically the current law doesn't allow rehabilitation to be provided to prisoners on remand because they are awaiting trial or sentencing. This is pretty nuts as all prisoners should be able to access rehabilitation courses.
Not sure why it needed a change of Government to make it happen, but glad it is.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
2 comments:
Yes this is very much needed. The previous gov't's practice of letting criminals off to go back to their criminogenic environments, they seemed to think was kind! these poor miscreants are sadly in need of direction in their lives, and if prison is the only place they will get it (and of course it is not well-enough resourced to do so yet) this is better than nothing.
@EP: apologies if i misunderstood your statement... aren't the prisoners in remand awaiting trial? can we consider them criminals ahead of that?
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