Call for Prison ReformThursday 14 July
With New Zealand’s rate of imprisonment second only to the United States, Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) is backing
calls for reform of our prison system.
The changes urgently required include: placing the role of Corrections within social service departments, and making
sure prisoners get access to remedial education, drug and alcohol programmes and a genuine rehabilitative environment.
Dr Tony Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Victoria University is one of a number of voices calling for the
establishment of an independent penal commission.
“Our current prison system is failing. DCM supports the recommendations for penal reform, and a move towards prison
policy based on research and expert advice.” says Stephanie.
This is a view supported by the Salvation Army in their 2006 report, “Beyond the Holding Tank.” This report, as well as
advocating for an independent penal commission, recommends moving the focus from building more prisons and increasingly
harsher sentencing policy to restorative and rehabilitative processes.
Stephanie says, “With illiteracy rates high among prisoners, there is a failure by prisons to use opportunities to
address literacy issues. This makes moving into employment once released an even harder task. DCM witnesses first-hand
the effects of this, and the increasing need for social services through lack of opportunities for released offenders.”
Bill English commented at a speech to the Families Commission in May this year, that our prison system was a “moral and
fiscal failure”. DCM urges the Government to respond to the frequent calls for penal reform.
If you would like to find out more about organisations involved in penal reform in New Zealand, please visit the
Rethinking Crime and Punishment website: www.rethinking.org.nz.
ENDS