Simon Power MP
National Party Law & Order Spokesman
27 March 2006
Labour failure in prisoner rehab laid bare
National Party Law & Order spokesman Simon Power has released new figures which have “laid bare Labour’s stunning failure when it comes to
drug and alcohol rehabilitation for prison inmates”.
He is commenting on answers to parliamentary questions which show that since 2003 there has been a dramatic decline in
the number of inmates taking part and completing the 100-hour drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes in prison.
"This is a disgrace given that an estimated 83% of our prison population have drug or alcohol problems.”
In the 2002/03 year there were 233 inmates on drug and alcohol programmes. Last year there were only 103 inmates, and so
far this year a miniscule 80 inmates have started rehab courses.
“Rehabilitation rates should not be declining when the prison population is increasing,” says Mr Power.
“The number of inmates actually completing courses has dropped from a high of 183 in 2002/03 to 83 last year, and 69 so
far this year.
"At this rate, fewer prisoners will go through this programme this year than at any time since the Labour Government
came into office, and the downward spiral of the past four years will continue.”
Mr Power says it is time Corrections admitted it is failing dismally in the area of drug rehabilitation at a time when
there is a serious 'P' epidemic, and when more and more drugs are being found in prisons.
In 2004 – 2005, 17% of inmates tested positive for drugs during random testing.
The number of positive tests for methamphetamine alone increased more than 13-fold between 1999/2000 and 2004/2005.
“There has never been a stronger argument for effective rehabilitation programmes. Corrections is going backwards,” says
Mr Power.
ENDS