08 July 2021
C137370
C Moka
[FYI request #15800 email]
Tēnā koe C Moka
Thank you for your email of 15 June 2021, requesting information about case
management in prison. Your request has been considered under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA).
Corrections is committed to reducing re-offending and giving those who offend every
opportunity to turn their lives around. Our aim is to provide the people we manage
with the right intervention at the right time, both inside and outside prison. Case
Managers work with people throughout their time in prison to help people address
their rehabilitation and reintegration needs.
Please note your questions have been reordered for ease of response.
You have asked:
1. What is the full role of a Inmates case manager? What are they ment to
support with?
The purpose of the Case Manager is to contribute to reducing re-offending and
improving public safety, through leading a multi-disciplinary approach to prisoner
management.
Case Managers work directly with a person in prison to facilitate services and deliver
active and caring support to prepare the person to live an offence-free life. After
someone is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, the Case Manager works with
them to develop a plan to meet their identified needs. The Case Manager then
manages the plan throughout the person’s sentence, to ensure they are able to
complete any required programmes and other interventions.
Case Managers regularly review the rehabilitation and reintegration needs of the
person they are working with and revise their plan accordingly. They also provide
information to the New Zealand Parole Board (NZPB) on progress with the plan.
2
When someone leaves prison, the Case Manager works with the person’s probation
officer to transition the individual and ensure they are well support to live offence-free
in the community.
2. What is the process of request to changing an inmates case manager?
If someone in prison wants to change their Case Manager, they can fill in a PC.01
complaint form, asking for a change and providing reasons they believe this is
necessary. This wil be reviewed by the relevant Principal Corrections Officer and
Principal Case Manager (PCM). Interviews wil be conducted with the person who
requested a change and their current Case Manager. After considering the request,
the PCM wil make a decision and inform the person of the outcome of their request.
3. What are the grounds to request change of an inmates case manager?
4. What are grounds for an inmate to remove current case manager and request
another?
Each request for a change is reviewed on its own merits. The PCM would consider
the reason a change has been requested, the person’s history with their existing
Case Manager, and the allocation considerations which are used every time
someone in prison is matched with a Case Manager. These considerations are:
• How does the Case Manager experience and ability match the level of risk
and complexity of needs posed by the individual?
• Does the Case Manager have workload capacity to take on a new person?
• What particular skil s (e.g. language, cultural connection) does the Case
Manager have that would benefit the management of the individual?
• Will the Case Manager have a balanced workload if this type of person is
added to their caseload?
• Are there any potential conflicts of interest with the individual?
• If there are any development needs/lack of experience/capacity issues, how
wil these be addressed so the Case Manager is supported to manage the
individual?
When a conflict of interest is identified, this wil take precedence over other
considerations.
5. Can management refuse formal request from an inmate to change their
current case manager?
Yes. If, after considering the circumstances and the allocation considerations, the
PCM believes the person who has requested a change should remain with their
current Case Manager, their request can be declined.
Please note that this response may be published on Corrections’ website. Typically,
responses are published quarterly, or as otherwise determined. Your personal
information including your name and contact details wil be removed for publication.
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,
3
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
Robert Jones
Manager Ministerial Services
People and Capability
