07 August 2023
C170420
James
fyi‐request‐23418‐[email address]
Tēnā koe James
Thank you for your email of 7 July 2023 to the Department of Corrections – Ara Poutama
Aotearoa, requesting information about the reduction in prison population. Your request
has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
You requested:
Under the OIA please provide all, if any information that shows the prison population
has been safely reduced. This should include but not be limited to all data, research
and reports on correlations between the reduced prison population and the current
increase in crime that would obviously have to be taken into account.
Corrections does not decide who is in prison and who is in the community – this is a matter
for the Courts and New Zealand Parole Board. There are a range of factors that influence the
prison population, including arrests, court decisions, releases and seasonal trends.
Corrections is committed to reducing re‐offending, and giving offenders every opportunity
to turn their lives around. To help people address their offending we provide programmes
according to risk, need and their ability to be responsive to the programme. In order to
ensure that we are targeting our investment to interventions that work, we measure the
effectiveness of our programmes annually, with results published in our Annual Report. For
example, the 2021/22 Annual Report records re‐imprisonment rate after a 12‐ and 24‐
month period (pages 174 – 178) and the Rehabilitation Quotient (pages 179 – 181) records
the effectiveness of our prison and community‐based interventions.
We continue to work towards long term reductions in the remand population through the
High Impact Innovation Programme (HIIP). The programme has operated a number of
initiatives to prevent unnecessary delays for people in the justice system. The initiatives
improve information flow and access to information, which enables informed decision
making by the judiciary or New Zealand Parole Board as quickly and safely as possible. The
initiatives also provide increased support to people in the justice system, reducing harm and
improving the likelihood of someone complying with any conditions imposed on them.
NATIONAL OFFICE, WELLINGTON
Mayfair House, 44 – 52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140,
Phone +64 4 460 3000
www.corrections.govt.nz
2
After conducting a search of our records, we have not identified any further data, research
or reports that specifically relate to safely reducing the prison population. In particular, we
have not received any information suggesting a correlation between recent crime statistics
and the reduction of the prison population.
Therefore, your request is refused under 18(e) of the OIA, as the document alleged to
contain the information does not exist.
Please note that this response may be published on Corrections’ website. Typically,
responses are published quarterly, or as otherwise determined. Your personal information
including name and contact details will be removed for publication.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. I encourage you to raise any concerns
about this response 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
Nic Barkley
Manager Ministerial Services
People and Capability