NCJ Number
240153
Date Published
2012
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This report presents New Zealand's strategy for raising inmate skill levels and provide them with employment experience.
Abstract
The strategy's goal is to provide 1,000 more inmates with skills and work experience by 2012. The strategy promotes skill development, increases the provision of training and employment, and expands these opportunities to a wider and more diverse group of inmates. Skills will be developed primarily through work experience, literacy and math training, and Release to Work. The main areas of expansion will be work-based training in prison industries and unit-based employment. The strategy also will increase educational services for inmates, with a view toward their receiving a National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA). There will be an expanded use of Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) instructors, who will deliver trade and technical training. Other components of the strategy are to increase the provision of self-directed tertiary education, to maintain computer training, and to provide driver training. Ways of increasing employment opportunities include an expansion of the number of inmates doing work by splitting shifts, increasing opportunities for higher security inmates to participate in work training, and expanding opportunities for remand inmates. In addition, the strategy will increase partnerships with the private commercial sector, develop a mechanism for the sale of inmate art, and explore the use of prisoners as tutors or mentors. In order to ensure the cost-benefit of the strategy, those with the lowest work skills will be given priority for vocational training and work. An increase in the number of people gaining skills will be a focus, along with an increase in the amount and level of job skills achieved by each inmate. The level of employment-oriented services for Maori inmates will increase to match their proportion of the prison population. Appended relevant legislation and international agreements