Corrections And Pathway Trust Partnership creates New Zealand’s first prison / community Reintegration Unit

For immediate release 29 May 2018

The Department of Corrections and Pathway Trust will sign an MOU on Wednesday, 30 May to launch a ground-breaking project the “Navigate Initiative”, a community reintegration unit to open at Christchurch Men’s Prison later this year.

“We are very excited about the Reintegrative community partnership with Pathway Trust,” says Corrections Regional Commissioner, Ben Clark. “Corrections are well aware that to reduce reoffending and build safer communities we need to work closely with others. The prison unit created through this community partnership has the potential to make a substantial difference in helping men leaving prison to live safely in the community on release.”

“Pathway have extensive expertise in working with offenders in the community. This partnership behind the wire marks the beginning of a new way of working together, ‘bringing the community in’, to better prepare and support men transitioning from prison to the community.”

During a 24 month pilot, the unit will offer an innovative new reintegration opportunity to men close to their expected release date, who have completed their rehabilitation programmes and are on track for parole or release. The prisoners will move into the specialised unit where they will take part in employment and an immersive reintegration support programme headed by Pathway Trust.

The first six months after leaving prison is a high risk time for people leaving prison. By taking a community based approach, the two organisations hope to strengthen the preparedness of prisoners for parole, give them greater ability to successfully live and work in the community, and maintain their commitment to a crime free life on release.

Specialised supports in the areas of physical health, mental health, life skills development, whanāu meetings, employment preparation, arts development, cultural development, educational tutoring, restorative justice conferencing, and other opportunities will be made available during the men’s time in the unit.

More than 40 community organisations and individuals have signed on to offer their services in the unit including core partners Drug-ARM and Anglican Care, along with other key community providers such as Catapult Employment, MSSAT, Pathfinders and Te Taumutu Rūnanga. The relationships that these organisations build with the men in the unit will continue as they transition from behind the prison wire into the community. Providers will work alongside the Department’s Guided Release Case Managers to strengthen the chances of maintaining a crime-free life.

“We believe that they key to addressing New Zealand’s prisoner reintegration challenges lie in the community and Corrections working together in partnership to achieve better outcomes that will build a safer community for all of us,” says Carey Ewing, Reintegration Manager at Pathway Trust.

The first partnership of its kind, this new reintegration unit is being funded by individuals, businesses, groups and churches within the community who believe that delivering extra supports to released prisoners will make a positive impact in their city. Donors purchase one or more $1,000 “supporter shares” in the unit and will commit to do so each year for five years, depending on the success of the pilot. Supporter shareholders receive ongoing updates on the progress and impact of the unit, allowing them to own and track their own contribution to social change.

ENDS

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