NCJ Number
193937
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2002 Pages: 25-29
Date Published
2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article outlines the strategies and programs created by the Department of Corrections to reducing recidivism by Mâori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.
Abstract
The Department of Corrections in New Zealand manages custodial and noncustodial sentences imposed by the courts. Maori are disproportionately represented in the correctional population. They comprise 53 percent of all offenders serving custodial sentences, 48 percent of all offenders serving community-based sentences, 59 percent of all female inmates and 51 percent of all male inmates. Maori are part of the Polynesian cultures of the South Pacific. They comprise 14.5 percent of the total population of 3.7 million people in New Zealand. The Department of Corrections has implemented eight programs designed to address the needs of the Maori offenders: 1) Integrated Offender Management (IOM) and Maori Cultural-Related Needs is a structured, consistent approach to assess and manage offenders, ensure sentence compliance, and achieve successful reintegration; 2) The special cultural assessments process builds on the Maori cultural-related needs and is intended to allow cultural supervisors, sentence planners or others who are assessing offenders to identify special cultural needs of Maori; 3) the cultural supervision model is being developed to ensure the Maori cultural values are upheld; 4) Tikanga Maori programs use Maori values to change the thinking and behavior of Maori offenders; 5) Maori therapeutic programs focus on specific behaviors related to criminal behavior; 6) Bicultural Therapy Model provides the opportunity for Maori offenders to choose a Western psychologist, a Maori provider/healer, or a combination; 7) Maori focus units are designed to use Maori language and culture as a medium to create a change in attitude among Maori offenders; and 8) Whanau involvement plan is being developed by the Department of Corrections to coordinate family involvement in Maori offenders’ sentences. 11 Notes