05 March 2021
C129715
BAW Russell
[FYI request #14282 email]
Tēnā koe BAW Russell
Thank you for your email of 11 December 2020, requesting information about drug
tests conducted by Corrections. Your request has been considered under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA).
Corrections key priority is the safety of people in prison and on community based-
sentences and orders, staff and the public. Alcohol and other drug issues are
common among people under Corrections’ management. Sixty percent of people on
community-based sentences have an identified alcohol or other drug need and 87
percent of people in prison have experienced an alcohol or other drug need over
their lifetime
We manage approximately 8,800 people in prison. Some individuals go to extreme
lengths to introduce contraband into prison, including alcohol, other drugs, and
associated paraphernalia. The use of this type of contraband in prison presents a
significant risk to the security of the site, the safety of staff, and the wellbeing of the
people who consume or trade it. The use of alcohol and other drugs can also inhibit
the success of a person’s rehabilitation programmes aimed at reducing their risk of
re-offending.
Individuals attempt to introduce contraband in many ways including concealment in
vehicles and products, internal concealment on a person’s body, concealment in
incoming mail and property, items thrown over fences and smuggled by visitors.
Corrections carries out a significant amount of work to prevent introduction, and we
continue to ensure that new methods of introduction are prevented. Our intelligence
staff constantly work to identify and mitigate risk areas in the physical environment,
and to stay informed about new methods of concealment.
Drug testing aims to detect and prevent the supply of drugs into prison. An algorithm
is used to ensure people in prison who meet eligibility criteria are randomly selected
for a drug test correctly.
Every year, approximately 5,000 people serving community-based sentences/orders
and around 15,000 bailees have an alcohol and/or drug abstinence imposed upon
them. In May 2017, Corrections began a community-based two-year alcohol and
other drug testing trial when enabling legislation was enacted by Parliament.
2
Corrections conducted a two year trial which has been completed and nation-wide
random alcohol and drug testing went live on 1 March 2021.
We know that alcohol and drugs are an issue amongst offenders. A recent study
found that 47% of New Zealand prisoners had received a diagnosis of a substance
use disorder within the last 12 months, and 87% of prisoners had a lifetime diagnosis
(Bowman, 2016).
Testing for alcohol and drugs allows us to better intervene with a person according to
their identified AOD needs. People often understate their use, believing that honesty
will only get them into trouble if they have an abstinence condition. Testing provides
an evidence base for treatment and allows us to open dialogue with a person about
their AOD use and what support they require. This means we are able to target a
person’s intervention to their actual need. This aligns to the Risk-Needs-Responsivity
model (RNR) adopted by Corrections, which works to ensure the right interventions
are being delivered to the right people at the right time.
Where a person who is serving a community-based sentence/order records a
positive test for alcohol and/or drugs, we have options available to support the
person. The Probation Officer may consider a referral to a community-based
intervention. This requires the person in the community agreeing and participate in
the intervention. If the person does not agree to an intervention, the Probation Officer
can lay a formal charge in court against the person, for non-compliance with any
condition.
An update on the community-based two year alcohol and other drug testing trial is
available on Corrections website:
https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/statistics/journal/volume_7_issue_1_july_
2019/update_on_the_community-based_two-
year_alcohol_and_other_drug_testing_trial
Also available alongside this update is the Qualitative evaluation of the alcohol and
other drug testing in the community trial:
https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/statistics/journal/volume_7_issue_1_july_
2019/qualitative_evaluation_of_the_alcohol_and_other_drug_testing_in_the_commu
nity_trial
Alcohol and other drugs are often factors in a person’s offending and can be
detrimental to their overall wellbeing and the wellbeing of their whanau. As a result
we provide treatment services in the community and prison. Corrections is offering
more support to people with addictions. Recent initiatives include:
RecoveRing – 0800 alcohol and drug support line for offenders and prisoners.
This 24/7 support line offers advice, a brief needs assessment and crisis
support. Calls are answered by experienced registered alcohol and drug
practitioners.
Alcohol and other drug aftercare workers – based in our Drug Treatment Units
and Intensive Treatment Programmes, aftercare workers offer ongoing
maintenance support to prisoners, including when they leave prison.
3
Additional beds in residential treatment facilities: Corrections is funding
additional beds for community-based offenders with significant alcohol and drug
needs.
These initiatives complement Corrections’ existing services, including our Drug
Treatment Programmes, Intensive Treatment Programmes and the brief
interventions offered by our probation officers and case managers.
You have requested the following information:
Please provide a summary of drug test results for 2019/20, broken down by
prison for prisoners and community sentence type for those in the community,
including:
* the total number of tests undertaken
* the test results (i.e. positive, negative, adulterated etc)
Please see Appendix One for the number of drug tests and results for people in
prison in 2019/20. In the 2019/20 financial year, Corrections conducted 3,396
general random drug tests. Just 4.4 percent of the general random drug tests
conducted nationally returned a positive result; compared to 2010/11 when the rate
was 6.8 percent.
Unfortunately, we cannot readily extract information on drug tests for people subject
to community-based sentences and orders from our electronic records. While
Corrections is exploring the development of a reporting system for this information, it
is not currently centrally recorded in the same manner as drug test results for people
in prison. In order to identify this type of specific information, we would be required to
manually review a large number of files.
In accordance with the OIA, we have considered whether to affix a charge or extend
the time limit for responding. However, given the scale of the request we do not
consider that this would be an appropriate use of our publicly funded resources.
Therefore, this part of your request is declined under section 18(f) of the OIA, as the
information cannot be made available without substantial collation or research
* the testing method used (i.e. urine, blood, hair etc).
The testing method used in prison and the community is urine sampling.
Please also provide any guidance to staff on drug testing and responding to
positive tests, including managing the risk of false positives.
Guidance for prison drug and alcohol testing is available on Corrections’ website in
the Prison Operations Manual section,
S.07 Drug and alcohol testing:
https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/policy_and_legislation/Prison-Operations-
Manual/Security/S.07-Drug-and-alcohol-testing
For guidance for Community Corrections staff conducting drug and alcohol tests,
please see Appendix Two Alcohol and Other Drug Testing for community-based
4
offenders. Please note a small amount of information has been withheld in
accordance with section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the privacy of natural persons.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. Should you have any concerns with
this response, I would encourage you to raise them 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.
Ngā mihi nui
Topia Rameka
Acting National Commissioner
5
Appendix One: drug tests in prisons, 2019/20.
Type
Category
Test Sampled at
Positive Negative
Total
Auckland Region Women’s
Manual
Corrections Facility
11
11
Auckland South Corrections
Facility
12
12
Christchurch Mens Prison
27
27
Identified Drug User –
Christchurch Womens Prison
1
1
Voluntary Check
Hawkes Bay Prison
3
35
38
Invercargill Prison
3
13
16
Manawatu Prison
2
34
36
Northland Region Corrections
Facility
8
8
Otago Corrections Facility
1
7
8
Rimutaka Prison
28
28
Rolleston Prison
3
3
Spring Hill Corrections Facility
16
16
Tongariro Prison
4
4
Waikeria Prison
3
8
11
Whanganui Prison
1
27
28
Total
13
234
247
Reasonable Cause
Arohata Prison
7
15
22
Auckland Region Women’s
Corrections Facility 3
23
26
Auckland South Corrections
Facility 10
97
107
Auckland Prison
8
12
20
Christchurch Mens Prison
15
177
192
Christchurch Womens Prison
6
33
39
Hawkes Bay Prison
47
70
117
Invercargill Prison
9
12
21
Manawatu Prison
17
11
28
Mt Eden Corrections Facility 35
42
77
Northland Region Corrections
Facility 4
20
24
Otago Corrections Facility 19
45
64
Rimutaka Prison
24
66
90
Rolleston Prison
3
26
29
Spring Hill Corrections Facility 2 5
7
Tongariro Prison
4
11
15
Waikeria Prison
19
11
30
Whanganui Prison
17
55
72
Total
249 731
980
6
Type
Category
Test Sampled at
Positive
Negative
Total
Voluntary
Manual Participant
Arohata Prison
1
81
82
Auckland Region Women’s
Corrections Facility
6
6
Auckland South Corrections Facility
16
16
Auckland Prison
52
52
Christchurch Mens Prison
59
59
Hawkes Bay Prison
11
254
265
Invercargill Prison
2
2
Manawatu Prison
2
2
Mt Eden Corrections Facility
2
159
161
Northland Region Corrections Facility
2
2
Otago Corrections Facility
2
34
36
Rimutaka Prison
2
165
167
Spring Hill Corrections Facility
2
211
213
Tongariro Prison
1
1
Waikeria Prison
3
24
27
Whanganui Prison
4
23
27
Total
27
1091
1118
Manual
Total
289 2056
2345
Rando
General Drug
m
Test
Arohata Prison
36
2
Auckland Region Women’s
Corrections Facility 5
142
6
Auckland South Corrections Facility 32
381
64
Auckland Prison
1
208
14
Christchurch Mens Prison
6
295
47
Christchurch Womens Prison
1
20
8
Hawkes Bay Prison
15
233
71
Invercargill Prison
11
50
15
Manawatu Prison
14
70
66
Mt Eden Corrections Facility 4
177
16
Northland Region Corrections Facility 6
180
7
Otago Corrections Facility 5
178
31
Rimutaka Prison
8
370
64
Rolleston Prison
147
6
Spring Hill Corrections Facility 12
308
17
Tongariro Prison
4
104
6
Waikeria Prison
8
193
33
Whanganui Prison
18
154
35
Total
150 3246
3396
7
Type
Category
Test Sampled at
Positive
Negative
Total
Random
Arohata Prison
2
2
Auckland Region Women’s
Corrections Facility
6
6
Auckland South
Identified Drug User
Corrections Facility
11
53
64
Status Drug Testing
Auckland Prison
14
14
Christchurch Mens Prison
1
46
47
Christchurch Womens
Prison
8
8
Hawkes Bay Prison
15
56
71
Invercargill Prison
3
12
15
Manawatu Prison
19
47
66
Mt Eden Corrections
Facility
2
14
16
Northland Region
Corrections Facility
7
7
Otago Corrections Facility
4
27
31
Rimutaka Prison
6
58
64
Rolleston Prison
6
6
Spring Hill Corrections
Facility
17
17
Tongariro Prison
6
6
Waikeria Prison
9
24
33
Whanganui Prison
10
25
35
Total
80
428
508
Temporary Release
Arohata Prison
11 11
Drug Testing
Auckland Region Women’s
Corrections Facility
11 11
Auckland Prison
2 2
Christchurch Mens Prison
9 9
Hawkes Bay Prison
1
54
55
Invercargill Prison
12 12
Manawatu Prison
6 6
Northland Region
Corrections Facility
46 46
Otago Corrections Facility
4 4
Rimutaka Prison
2
113
115
Rolleston Prison
33 33
Spring Hill Corrections
Facility
27 27
Tongariro Prison
8 8
Waikeria Prison
1
39
40
Whanganui Prison
13 13
Total 4
388
392
Random
Total
234 4062
4296
