6. SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
Does he stand by his statement that “people who are spending less than six months in jail, that’s almost 30 percent of the inmates,” are “people who are no risk to society”; if not, why not?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
I stand by my statement that almost 30 percent of inmates received into prison are sentenced to less than 6 months and some inmates in jail are no risk to society.
Who is right: is it Phil Goff and Paul Swain, who, during the election campaign heralded their “tough on crime”, “tough on the causes of crime” campaign, or is it the Minister, who has decided that 30 percent of our prison population is of no risk to society and we should just let them all out?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I am happy to say that both my colleagues are right, and I believe I am, too. The fact is that 30 percent of prisoners are sentenced to less than 6 months. The fact is that approximately 2,500 prisoners are classified as “minimum security”. Many of the inmates may be in both of those categories. We are considering alternative options to deal with those people within the prison system.
Who is right: is it the Minister’s colleague Phil Goff, who thought he was tough on crime and was happy to take credit for the burgeoning prison population back in February 2004, when he said: “I said that this law would be tougher law … there will be a 20 percent increase in the number of people in prison because of the tougher sentencing laws enacted by this Government.”, or is it the Minister, who, after 4 months in the job has decided to fling the prison doors open?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
Thanks to the changes in legislation promoted by my colleague, we have caught, convicted, and sentenced far more violent and dangerous offenders, and we have kept this society safe from those people. I am focusing on the 2,500 people in our prisons who are classified as low security.
How can the Minister claim that 30 percent of the prison population is of no risk to society and can be rehabilitated, when his confidence and supply partner, New Zealand First, has made it abundantly clear that it has no faith in the Department of Correction’s failing rehabilitation programmes?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
As I have tried to clarify for the member, the 30 percent relates to those who get sentences of less than 6 months. There are also 2,500 inmates, approximately, who are deemed to be low-risk, minimum security inmates. Some of those people may be the same. I acknowledge the facts exposed yesterday by New Zealand First that some rehabilitation programmes, when evaluated, are not delivering the results we would like. We will look at those programmes again and, if necessary, make changes.
Ron MarkIf the aim really is to reduce the number of people in prison, would it not be better to focus on the quality of the rehabilitation programmes being run by the Department of Corrections and, in particular, on the Straight Thinking programme, which the department’s internal documents describe as follows: “… the Straight Thinking programme would appear to adhere least to the established principles of effective programming …” as espoused internationally. “… it does not focus on specific criminogenic needs, has no after care or structured follow-up, and gives minimal attention to relapse prevention … International research has demonstrated that cognitive skills programmes have at best a modest effective on recidivism and at worse, may actually increase recidivism …”? That is an internal document; would the Minister like to comment?
Madam SPEAKERBefore the Minister comments, I would just like to remind members that questions should not also be speeches. They should be concise. Would the Minister now please answer the question.
Hon Damien O'Connor Link to this
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, rehabilitation and reintegration are key objectives of our corrections system. We run many rehabilitation programmes. Some are more successful than others. We are reviewing all of those programmes to ensure we are getting the best value for money from each and every one of them.
Nandor TanczosCan the Minister confirm the comments made by a former leader of the Labour Party, the late Rt Hon David Lange, when he said it costs so much to keep people in prison that for less money we could keep them in the Hilton Hotel and, what is more, they would not try to escape; and what did the Minister learn overseas about how to use that money more wisely, especially with regard to non-violent offenders?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I know that the former leader made a lot of very wise comments, and I accept his views. That is exactly why we are taking a serious look at all rehabilitation programmes and ways of reducing the costs of running the prison system in New Zealand.
With the Minister being so intent on letting out 30 percent of the prison population, since his return from Finland, has he taken the time to consider the signal that that sends to the victims of those 30 percent of offenders who, in his view, are supposedly no risk to society?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
There are no proposals to let people out of prisons. There are proposals and ideas to better manage their reintegration into society.
What was the Minister thinking, when his department is in such a shambles of budget blowouts, escapes, prisoners wandering into the control room at night at Ngāwhā Prison but not escaping, and large numbers of contraband entering prisons, when he proposed opening the prison doors with his new catch-and-release law and order policy?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I suggest that that member reads his local newspaper and the New Zealand Herald, both editorials of which say the proposals and ideas that are up for discussion are timely, necessary, and will hopefully be very, very productive.