Guided Release Information
C Lane made this Official Information request to Department of Corrections
The request was successful.
From: C Lane
Dear Department of Corrections,
Tēnā koutou,
I am writing to request information regarding guided releases in New Zealand prisons. Specifically, I would like to know the following:
1. The total number of guided releases conducted at each prison over the past 6 months.
2. If guided releases are not occurring, please provide an explanation for their suspension at each site.
3. When are guided releases expected to resume at each site?
4. The number of staff employed solely to conduct guided releases at each site.
5. Can guided release take place pre first parole for life sentenced inmate’s?
6. If so what is the specific criteria, for life sentenced and non life sentenced?
7. At what point does one become eligible for application of guided release, both life sentenced and non life sentenced?
I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. Please provide the requested information within the statutory timeframe under the Official Information Act 1982.
Ngā mihi nui,
Harris
From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora,
Thank you for getting in touch with the Ministerial Services team.
The [1][Department of Corrections request email] inbox is monitored from 8.00am to 4.00pm
Monday to Friday excluding public holidays & weekends.
If your request is urgent and relates to the wellbeing or safety of
someone in prison, please contact the prison directly. Contact details for
all prisons can be found here:
[2]https://www.corrections.govt.nz/about_us...
If you are looking for the location of a person in prison or if you want
to know if someone is in prison, you can request this information using
the online form on our website:
[3]https://www.corrections.govt.nz/working_...
This is an automatic reply to confirm we have received your email and we
will contact you if any further information is required. Please do not
reply to this message.
Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
The Ministerial Services Team
[4][Department of Corrections request email]
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011
External Comms.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this message is the property of the New Zealand
Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to
which it is addressed and may contain privileged or in confidence
material. Any review, storage, copying, editing, summarising,
transmission, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, by any means,
in whole or part, or taking any action in reliance upon, this information
by persons or entities other than intended recipient are prohibited. If
you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the
material from all computers.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Corrections request email]
2. https://www.corrections.govt.nz/about_us...
3. https://www.corrections.govt.nz/working_...
4. mailto:[Department of Corrections request email]
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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora,
Thank you for your email.
We are in receipt of your email.
If you are requesting information, we are required to comply with the Privacy Act 2020, the Official Information Act 1982 and the Victims Rights Act 2002.
Depending on the nature of your request you may not receive an official response for up to 20 working days.
We will respond to you in due course.
Ngâ mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
-----Original Message-----
From: C Lane <[FOI #30883 email]>
Sent: 02 May 2025 1:25 a.m.
To: Info@Corrections <[Department of Corrections request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Guided Release Information
[You don't often get email from [FOI #30883 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear Department of Corrections,
Tçnâ koutou,
I am writing to request information regarding guided releases in New Zealand prisons. Specifically, I would like to know the following:
1. The total number of guided releases conducted at each prison over the past 6 months.
2. If guided releases are not occurring, please provide an explanation for their suspension at each site.
3. When are guided releases expected to resume at each site?
4. The number of staff employed solely to conduct guided releases at each site.
5. Can guided release take place pre first parole for life sentenced inmate’s?
6. If so what is the specific criteria, for life sentenced and non life sentenced?
7. At what point does one become eligible for application of guided release, both life sentenced and non life sentenced?
I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. Please provide the requested information within the statutory timeframe under the Official Information Act 1982.
Ngâ mihi nui,
Harris
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
External Comms.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this message is the property of the New Zealand Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain privileged or in confidence material. Any review, storage, copying, editing, summarising, transmission, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, by any means, in whole or part, or taking any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than intended recipient are prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers.
hide quoted sections
From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora,
Please see the attached extension letter.
Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
External Comms.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this message is the property of the New Zealand
Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to
which it is addressed and may contain privileged or in confidence
material. Any review, storage, copying, editing, summarising,
transmission, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, by any means,
in whole or part, or taking any action in reliance upon, this information
by persons or entities other than intended recipient are prohibited. If
you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the
material from all computers.
hide quoted sections
From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora,
Please see the attached response.
Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
External Comms.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this message is the property of the New Zealand
Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to
which it is addressed and may contain privileged or in confidence
material. Any review, storage, copying, editing, summarising,
transmission, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, by any means,
in whole or part, or taking any action in reliance upon, this information
by persons or entities other than intended recipient are prohibited. If
you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the
material from all computers.
hide quoted sections
From: C Lane
Dear Leigh Marsh,
Thank you for your response.
In further request of my original Official Information Act Request C196890,
I would like clarified answer and confirmation that consists of YES or No, followed by breakdown of each answer that were part of Request C196890,
Can life sentenced prisoners whom have not reached parole, achieve guiding release in support of maintaining family relationships in the following examples:
1 - Day releases to the family/home residence to where the prisoner will be applying to parole when parole is reached? How long before parole can one be eligible to apply? To me this is what would make sense, to prepare for first parole if granted.
2 - Overnight stays to the family/home residence to the family/home residence to where the prisoner will be applying to parole when parole is reached? How long before parole can one be eligible to apply?
3 - Weekend stays to the family/home residence to the family/home residence to where the prisoner will be applying to parole when parole is reached? How long before parole can one be eligible to apply?
4 - Also in what cases can an inmates family members (that have been vetted) support the guiding release in the above scenarios and others? This meaning, by way of assort and being the travel provider not Corrections Staff or hired escort services, with no Corrections Staff presence on travel.
Yours sincerely,
C.Lane
From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora,
Thank you for getting in touch with the Ministerial Services team.
The [1][Department of Corrections request email] inbox is monitored from 8.00am to 4.00pm
Monday to Friday excluding public holidays & weekends.
If your request is urgent and relates to the wellbeing or safety of
someone in prison, please contact the prison directly. Contact details for
all prisons can be found here:
[2]https://www.corrections.govt.nz/about_us...
If you are looking for the location of a person in prison or if you want
to know if someone is in prison, you can request this information using
the online form on our website:
[3]https://www.corrections.govt.nz/working_...
This is an automatic reply to confirm we have received your email and we
will contact you if any further information is required. Please do not
reply to this message.
Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
The Ministerial Services Team
[4][Department of Corrections request email]
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011
External Comms.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this message is the property of the New Zealand
Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to
which it is addressed and may contain privileged or in confidence
material. Any review, storage, copying, editing, summarising,
transmission, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, by any means,
in whole or part, or taking any action in reliance upon, this information
by persons or entities other than intended recipient are prohibited. If
you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the
material from all computers.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Corrections request email]
2. https://www.corrections.govt.nz/about_us...
3. https://www.corrections.govt.nz/working_...
4. mailto:[Department of Corrections request email]
hide quoted sections
From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora,
Thank you for your email.
We are in receipt of your email.
If you are requesting information, we are required to comply with the
Privacy Act 2020, the Official Information Act 1982 and the Victims Rights
Act 2002.
Depending on the nature of your request you may not receive an official
response for up to 20 working days.
We will respond to you in due course.
Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
[1][IMG] [2][IMG] [3][IMG] [4][IMG]
[5][IMG]
-----Original Message-----
From: C Lane <[FOI #30883 email]>
Sent: 14 June 2025 5:24 p.m.
To: Info@Corrections <[Department of Corrections request email]>
Subject: CM: [EXTERNAL] Re: C196890
Dear Leigh Marsh,
Thank you for your response.
In further request of my original Official Information Act Request
C196890,
I would like clarified answer and confirmation that consists of YES or No,
followed by breakdown of each answer that were part of Request C196890,
Can life sentenced prisoners whom have not reached parole, achieve guiding
release in support of maintaining family relationships in the following
examples:
1 - Day releases to the family/home residence to where the prisoner will
be applying to parole when parole is reached? How long before parole can
one be eligible to apply? To me this is what would make sense, to prepare
for first parole if granted.
2 - Overnight stays to the family/home residence to the family/home
residence to where the prisoner will be applying to parole when parole is
reached? How long before parole can one be eligible to apply?
3 - Weekend stays to the family/home residence to the family/home
residence to where the prisoner will be applying to parole when parole is
reached? How long before parole can one be eligible to apply?
4 - Also in what cases can an inmates family members (that have been
vetted) support the guiding release in the above scenarios and others?
This meaning, by way of assort and being the travel provider not
Corrections Staff or hired escort services, with no Corrections Staff
presence on travel.
Yours sincerely,
C.Lane
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora,
Please see the attached response.
Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
External Comms.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[6][FOI #30883 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
External Comms.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this message is the property of the New Zealand
Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to
which it is addressed and may contain privileged or in confidence
material. Any review, storage, copying, editing, summarising,
transmission, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, by any means,
in whole or part, or taking any action in reliance upon, this information
by persons or entities other than intended recipient are prohibited. If
you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the
material from all computers.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.corrections.govt.nz/
2. https://www.facebook.com/CorrectionsNZ/
3. https://nz.linkedin.com/company/departme...
4. https://twitter.com/correctionsnz?lang=en
5. http://www.corrections.govt.nz/
6. mailto:[FOI #30883 email]
7. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora,
Please see the attached response.
Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
External Comms.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this message is the property of the New Zealand
Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to
which it is addressed and may contain privileged or in confidence
material. Any review, storage, copying, editing, summarising,
transmission, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, by any means,
in whole or part, or taking any action in reliance upon, this information
by persons or entities other than intended recipient are prohibited. If
you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the
material from all computers.
hide quoted sections
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