Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/34287-deaf-mute-hard-of-hearing-prisoners on May 27, 2026 17:55

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Deaf/Mute/Hard of Hearing Prisoners

H Barakat made this Official Information request to Department of Corrections

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From: H Barakat

Dear Department of Corrections,

I am requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982:

1. How many deaf/hard of hearing prisoners have there been in your prisons in the last 5 years?
2. How many mute prisoners have there been in your prisons in the last 5 years?
3. How many deaf/hard of hearing and mute prisoners have there been in your prisons in the last 5 years?
4. What is the protocol regarding communication with deaf and mute prisoners? How are they alerted re lockdowns/fires/emergencies? How are they notified about meal times?
5. How many prison guards are fluent in NZSL in prisons and which prisoners do they work at?
6. Is there someone on site at all times able to communicate with hard of hearing, deaf and/or mute prisoners? What prisoners is this available at?
7. What is the protocol for a prisoner who is hard of hearing, deaf or mute suffering a medical episode? Can you please also specify how they would signal to Corrections of such an event?
8. How would prisons communicate with/interact with prisoners that have low literacy, and are mute and deaf?
9. How many deaf, mute and/or hard of hearing prisoners have died in custody in New Zealand in the last 5 years?

Yours faithfully,

H Barakat

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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections

Kia ora,

 

Thank you for getting in touch with Government Services - Official
Correspondence team.

 

PLEASE NOTE - due to Good Friday and Easter Monday public holidays the
[1][Department of Corrections request email] will not be monitored from 4.00pm on Thursday
2 April 2026 until 8.00am on Tuesday 7 April 2026.

 

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 have immediate concerns for you or your family’s safety, please in
the first instance contact NZ Police.

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.

 

Ngâ mihi | Kind regards,

 

Government Services - Official Correspondence Team

[4][Department of Corrections request email]

Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa

a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011

 

 

 

 

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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections

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Kia ora,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

We are in receipt of your email which has been logged with a reference:
C212527.

 

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.

 

We will respond to you in due course.

 

Ngâ mihi | Kind regards,

 

Government Services – Official Correspondence Team

 

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]

 

 

 

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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections

Attachment C212527 Extension Letter.PDF.pdf
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Kia ora,

Please see attached extension to the below correspondence.

Ngâ mihi | Kind regards,

Government Services – Official Correspondence
Ara Poutama Aotearoa, Department of Corrections
Wâhi mahi: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011

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