7. SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
Does he stand by his statement: “The prison service is not in crisis; it is running really well.”; if so, why?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
Yes, but there is always room for improvement.
Has his department ever considered releasing remand prisoners back into the community on electronic monitoring, to alleviate overcrowding and costs; if so, when?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
The department is currently carrying out trials of electronic monitoring of people who might safely be held in the community rather than in prison.
Martin GallagherFurther to the Minister’s answer to the primary question, in the Minister’s view, how do the Department of Corrections’ current key performance indicators compare with those of the 1990s, when the National Government was in power?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
A very good question. As a result of significant investment in, and commitment to, the Department of Corrections by this Government we have—to give a couple of examples—reduced the number of break-out escapes by more than 80 percent, and reduced the number of serious assaults on staff by inmates by more than 90 percent. And we have confiscated far more contraband items in the last 3 years, because we have put in place systems that identify and apprehend those people.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Is not the real answer to Mr Power’s first supplementary question that that idea is exactly what was proposed by the National Government’s Minister Nick Smith in 1997?
What is the Minister’s reaction to the leaked internal Department of Corrections memo written by a prison manager that proposes releasing remand prisoners on electronic monitoring rather than putting them in jail, in order to “significantly alleviate operational costs and the constant media attention”?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
We welcome within our department any good ideas that may result in the better management of inmates in our prison system, but we will not do anything that puts the community at risk. We will continue to apprehend, prosecute, and lock up more dangerous and violent offenders—and we have done so.
Can he explain to the House why the leaked internal memo makes no mention of public safety, and mentions only the need to cut costs and to avoid the negative publicity associated with overcrowding in prisons?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
Nothing is done by the Department of Corrections without considering the underlying and primary objective of protecting the community from dangerous and violent criminals.
Can the Minister confirm that approximately 50 percent of prisoners remanded in custody go on to serve a jail sentence; and if he does proceed with his department’s plan to release remand prisoners into the public on electronic monitoring, how will he know which half are guilty and which half are not?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
By the member’s own admission, 50 percent of those people held on remand do not go on to serve custodial sentences. We have a very extensive process of justice in this country whereby judges and the Parole Board make such decisions. We will leave those decisions to those independent authorities and individuals.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Is it true that the party in Government that introduced bracelets for home detention was, in fact, the National Party; and will he release all the documentation of 1997 in which Nick Smith undertook to do just that—to make sure the public know who is responsible for this issue?
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The premise of the member’s question is incorrect. I seek the leave of the House to table the Cabinet paper—Winston was probably asleep—in which we looked at home detention; it shows we never proposed it for remand inmates.
Madam SPEAKERLeave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. Can we now proceed with the response to the question.
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
Evaluation of home detention has proved that the rate of reoffending is very, very low. Electronic monitoring has been used internationally to ensure that authorities can keep an eye on prisoners who are on home detention. We are currently conducting trials, and no decisions have been made.
What other plans is his department working on to “significantly alleviate operational costs and the constant media attention” without any reference to public safety?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
We are undertaking no initiatives without considering, primarily, public safety. To quote a member of the House: “There are a lot of people in prison that for my mind don’t actually belong in prisons. You know, their crimes don’t actually say that they should be locked up like other prisoners.”
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I seek leave to table a series of Cabinet papers, including the one with National’s proposal in respect of private prisons. The deal was that it would have private prisons, and early release, with bracelets, on home detention.