17 September 2020
C124283
Moka Harris via Caleb Lane
[FYI request #13297 email]
Dear Ms Harris
I refer to your email of 13 July 2020, requesting information about counselling in
prison. Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act
1982 (OIA).
You requested:
•
What availability does New Zealand Prisons have in regards to family
counselling and/or couple counselling? Is there a criteria an inmate has
to fit to be allowed this request? If available, how dose one go about it?
Also if available by case by case, prison by prison, please include
information response for North Island Prisons.
Corrections does not offer family counselling or couple counselling in a
traditional sense. As such, your request is declined pursuant to section 18(g) of
the OIA, as the information requested is not held by the department and we
have no grounds for believing that the information is held by another
department.
Although Corrections does not offer traditional family or couples counselling, we
are committed to achieving better outcomes for people under our management
and their whānau.
Hōkai Rangi represents Corrections’ new strategic direction,
and is focused on finding new and alternative ways of doing things. Where they
are wil ing, whānau wil be supported to walk alongside people under our
management on their rehabilitation and reintegration journey. For more
information about the strategy please refer to our website at:
https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/strategic_reports/corrections_strategi
c_plans/hokai_rangi People under Corrections oversight with rehabilitative needs in relation to
domestic violence, can be referred to a domestic violence programme. These
programmes will help them identify thinking patterns and lifestyle factors that
contribute to their use of violence. It will also teach them the skills needed to live
without violence in the context of a famililal relationship. The programmes each
person undertakes, and when, will depend on their assessed risk, needs,
readiness, the nature of their offending, and programme availability. The
availability of some programmes is dependent on location. For more information
on programmes offered by Corrections, you can visit our website at:
www.corrections.govt.nz/working_with_offenders/
prison_sentences/employment_and_support_programmes/rehabilitation_progra
mmes. In addition to rehabilitation programmes, we also provide mental health services
which promote self-care, independence and increase positive engagement of
people who offend, their families and community support services. The services
include:
Mental Health Clinicians Working with
People on Sentence and Remand and with Staff
Teams of contracted mental health clinicians, such as nurses, occupational
therapists, and psychologists, work with people in prison and the community
across 16 prisons (excluding Mt Eden Corrections Facility and Auckland South
Corrections Facility) and four Community Corrections sites (Auckland, Hamilton,
Palmerston North, and Dunedin). These professionals work directly with
individuals to support them to manage their mental health needs. They also
provide mental health education to Corrections staff with the intention of
supporting staff to upskill and feel more confident with supporting people with
mental health needs. Clinicians may also refer people to appropriate community
service agencies that can help facilitate a successful reintegration with their
families and communities and increase the engagement of people in prison in
rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
Wrap Around Whānau Support
The Warp Around Whanau Support service supports the families of people who
are engaged in mental health services during their imprisonment or while
serving a sentence or order in the community. The initiative connects children
and families of individuals in prison with community services to improve their
social skills, health and education. Families will be supported to reunite with
people following a term of imprisonment or to stay united while they are in the
community. In turn, this will support the progress made by the person whilst in
prison or under the oversight of Community Corrections. This service is
currently available at four selected community sites (Auckland Hamilton,
Palmerston North, and Dunedin). The programme will help navigate families
towards the existing community services, including Whānau Ora providers.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. Should you have any concerns
with this response, I would encourage you to raise these with Corrections.
Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also raise any concerns with the
Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the Ombudsman,
PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Please note that this response may be published on Corrections’ website.
Typically, responses are published monthly, or as otherwise determined. Your
personal information including name and contact details will be removed for
publication.
Yours sincerely
Juanita Ryan
Deputy Chief Executive Health
