Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections Spokesman

31 July 2007

Labour wakes up to Prisons 101

It has taken the Labour Government eight years to realise that prisoners who behave should be rewarded while those who don’t should be punished, says National’s Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.

He is commenting on the release of the Government’s Prisoner Placement System, which offers incentives for prisoners to behave.

“Corrections Minister Damien O’Connor seems to be trying to make something new of all this, but I can’t see anything new here at all – and I’m sure the public won’t.

“How is rewarding prisoners who behave and punishing those who don’t ‘a significant step forward in the way New Zealand manages offenders,’ as he claims?

“Surely that is the way our prisons should already be working.

“That’s Prisons 101.

“Our prisons should already be offering learning, training and work opportunities and other privileges to prisoners who tow the line.

“Not only does that help them with their rehabilitation, it also prepares them for the outside world when they are released.

“It’s astounding that it’s taken eight years for Labour to realise the benefits in that approach.

“What I am surprised at is that under this ‘new’ system the most difficult prisoners will spend 23 hours a day locked in their cell.

“How many of the 100 policy advisers at head office did it take to think that one up?

“The public will be surprised to know that’s not standard practice.”

ENDS