25 March 2020
C119394
David Farrar
[FYI request #12343 email] Tēnā koe Mr Farrar
Thank you for your email of 2 March 2020, requesting information about
individuals serving less than three years’ imprisonment. Your request has been
considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
As you may be aware, the Electoral (Disqualification of Sentenced Prisoners)
Amendment Act 2010 removed the right of a person serving a term of
imprisonment to register as an elector. Proposed legislative changes under the
Electoral Amendment Bill are currently before Parliament to restore voting rights
to those prisoners serving a sentence of less than three years’ imprisonment.
Prisoners on remand (but not sentenced) are currently able to vote, as are
prisoners who have been released on parole. Prisoners regain the right to enrol
to vote immediately on their release, even if this occurs before the end of their
full sentence of imprisonment.
The prison population fluctuates on a daily basis due to arrests, releases and
court decisions. For ease of response, the figures provided are based on a
snapshot of the prison population as at 30 November 2019.
You have requested:
1. The number of sentenced prisoners who are serving a term of less than
3 years
2. How many of those prisoners are identified as members of a gang
3. How many of those prisoners are identified as gang associates
Your first three questions are answered together below.
As at 30 November 2019, 1,985 individuals were serving a sentence of less
than three years’ imprisonment. Of these individuals, 797 have recorded gang
affiliations.
Corrections records information regarding anyone who is presently recorded as
having a connection to a gang, including prospects and associates as well as
patched members.
