20 January 2026
C207245
Elspeth Baker-Vevers
[FYI request #33067 email]
Tēnā koe Elspeth
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 1 December 2025 to the
Department of Corrections – Ara Poutama Aotearoa, requesting the following information:
This request relates to Corrections’ management of people in prison, people serving
community-based sentences, and rehabilitation, reintegration, and programme
delivery services. I am not seeking any identifiable information about individuals in
Corrections’ care.
Timeframe: This request covers the period 1 January 2015 to the date this request is
received.
Format: Where datasets, tables, or modelling outputs are provided, please supply
them in machine-readable format (CSV or original spreadsheet file), along with any
data dictionaries or field definitions.
Scope clarification (to reduce unnecessary work) I am not seeking internal email
chains, drafts, or personal information about individuals unless they are the only
holders of the substantive information described.
If any part of this request is likely to be refused under s 18(f) due to substantial
collation or research, please identify that part early so I can refine it.
Context (for clarity only)
I am aware that Corrections has publicly referenced neuro-disability and
neurodiversity, including ADHD, through staff development articles (e.g., the
University of Otago SOCI404 course cohort) and employee networks. This request is
focused on the system-level recognition, recording, and support of ADHD within
Corrections’ operations, rather than individual staff-led initiatives.
Please provide the following information:
1. Policy, practice, screening, and training Any policies, practice documents, screening
tools, training materials, or operational guidance since 2015 that mention ADHD in
the context of:
a) -reception, assessment, or case management
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
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b) -neurodisability or neurodiversity screening
c) -rehabilitation or education programmes
d) -behaviour management -high-risk or high-needs pathways
e) -reintegration planning
f) -community-based sentences or probation work.
(If ADHD is only referenced within broader neurodisability or mental health material,
please provide that section.)
2. Data and analysis
Any data, studies, reports, or analysis held by Corrections identifying ADHD among:
a) -people in prison,
b) -people serving community-based sentences, or -programme participants.
Where available, please include:
a) -prevalence or descriptive statistics
b) -screening outcomes
c) -any analysis of outcomes (e.g., programme engagement, non-completion,
reintegration, or re-offending) for people with ADHD.
If any Māori data governance or Māori equity considerations were applied when
deciding whether to collect, categorise, or monitor ADHD-related information, please
provide the relevant documents.
(Anonymised or aggregated information is sufficient.)
3. Programmes, pilots, and inter-agency initiatives Any programmes, pilots, or
coordinated work with other agencies (e.g., Health NZ, Ministry of Health, Oranga
Tamariki, education providers, courts) since 2015 relating to:
a) -identifying ADHD among people in Corrections’ care -supporting people with
ADHD to engage with programmes
b) -adaptations or modifications to rehabilitation or education programmes
c) -improving access to ADHD assessment or treatment for people in prison or
on community sentences.
4. Barriers, risks, or limitations
Any advice, internal reports, reviews, or correspondence acknowledging barriers or
limitations in recognising or supporting ADHD within:
a) -prison settings
b) -community-based sentences
c) -programme delivery
d) -contracted providers
e) -psychological or clinical services.
This includes any documentation identifying gaps in data collection, assessment
processes, or workforce capability.
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5. Public-facing or participant-facing information Any public-facing, participant-
facing, or employer-facing materials since 2015 that reference ADHD, including:
-information provided to people in prison or on probation -information for whānau -
guidance for employers involved in reintegration -public campaigns or website
content.
If none exist, please confirm this.
6. Classification and categorisation
If Corrections does not explicitly track ADHD as a separate category, please:
a) -confirm this
b) -identify under which broader categories ADHD-related needs would fall (e.g.,
mental health, neurodisability, behavioural, learning difficulty) -provide any
data dictionary, coding standards, or classification guidance showing how
such needs are recorded in Corrections’ systems.
If information is not held
If your agency does not hold some or all of the information requested, that absence
itself helps clarify how ADHD is currently recognised and responded to within the
justice system. Please confirm if the information is not held and provide any
documents that record a decision not to collect or monitor ADHD-related
information.
Corrections needs to extend the timeframe of our response to your request by 20 working
days, pursuant to section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA, as consultations necessary to make a
decision on the request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably
be made within the original time limit. Therefore, you can expect to receive a response to
your request by 18 February 2026. If you no longer require this information, please let us
know as soon as possible.
I hope this information is helpful. Please be advised that should you have any concerns
regarding this response you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate our
decision to extend the timeframe. Contact details are: Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box
10152, Wellington 6143.
Ngā mihi
Jeremy Lythgoe
Manager, Official Correspondence
People and Capability
