Ag 04 january, 2017

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Wednesday, Jan 4, 2017

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It was warm inside The EA Networks pool was a popular holiday destination under yesterday’s overcast skies.

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PHOTO MICHELLE NELSON 030117-MN-026

Ben the boat builder P2

Prison system ‘failing inmates’ BY MICHELLE NELSON

MICHELLE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ

Bites for warm nights

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With the country’s prison muster set to reach a record 10,000 this year, changes to the way prisoners are integrated back into society are essential, a Salvation Army report says. The latest report, Beyond the Prison Gate points to a failing system which is having little impact on recidivist offending figures, which have not changed in the past decade. In 2015, 36.5 per cent of prisoners were back behind bars within two years of release. “The prison gate has for too long been a revolving door rather than a transition into a second chance at life. Instead of being effectively rehabilitated and reintegrated into society,

many prisoners on release become ‘repeat customers’,” report author Annaliese Johnston said. The cost of prisons is spiralling out of control and doing nothing to reduce reoffending, while refocusing efforts on effective alternatives and reintegration would save the country millions, reduce crime and make the country safer, she said. Johnston spoke to 33 Salvation Army clients about their post release experiences and how this could be improved on. Despite crime rates falling overall, the prison population has tripled since 1985. The report recommends reducing spending on custodial prison sentences and moving investment to pro-

grammes that will reduce crime and support reintegration for the around 15,000 people released from prison in New Zealand each year. Other recommendations include better access to accommodation and health services, private-public partnerships to provide employment, and mentors. “If we are not sufficiently supporting people to reintegrate then they are much more likely to reoffend. That is not good for anyone, and so far our current approach is failing to make meaningful progress,” Johnston says. “We know that there are alternative approaches, such as the justice re-investment model, that improve community safety and make better use of public money,” Johnston said.

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