Boosting services to break the cycle of offending
Hon Kelvin Davis
Minister of Corrections
EMBARGOED UNTIL 10 AM MONDAY 17 JUNE
PRESS RELEASE
17 June 2019
Boosting mental health and addiction services to break the cycle of offending
The Wellbeing Budget shows the Government’s commitment to doing things differently to break the cycle of offending and keep communities safe, with a $128.3 million boost in mental health and addiction services for offenders, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said today.
The investment will enable more people to access better mental health and Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) services both in prisons and the community.
“This expansion of services will help reduce reoffending by targeting some of the key drivers of crime and barriers to rehabilitation,” Kelvin Davis said.
“If we support people struggling with mental health or addiction issues, we make it easier for them to engage in education, employment and rehabilitation activities, and develop positive relationships with whānau and support networks. That means they can get their lives back on track. “
Once fully implemented, the expanded mental health services will support up to 2,310 additional offenders with mild to moderate mental health needs per year.
An increase in mental health clinicians from 38 to 63 will allow national coverage of services across prisons and community sites, and 15 new support workers will assist clinicians working with offenders in the community.
“We can’t expect to reduce reoffending and see fewer victims of crime if we don’t deal with the issues that landed people in prison or on a community sentence in the first place.
“This investment is an important step in helping offenders on to a better path, which is critical to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all New Zealanders,” Kelvin Davis said.
This investment also includes:
A family/whānau service for the
family/whānau of offenders who need mental health services.
Up to 275 families will be supported per year.
Supported living accommodation for offenders with
intensive mental health needs who are transitioning to the
community. Up to 30 offenders will be supported in total
each year.
Expanded social worker and trauma
counselling services to help offenders reconnect with their
whānau/children, address personal trauma, and transition
back into the community. Up to 800 prisoners will be
supported each year.
AOD treatment in prisons. Up to
four additional treatment programmes will be established and
the 11 existing programmes will be enhanced, enabling up to
204 participants to access treatment per year.
Expanding AOD testing and harm reduction support
interventions in the community will provide AOD tests and
alcohol detection anklets to ensure they avoid drink
driving.
AOD aftercare support services. Offenders
will be able to access the relapse support prevention they
need. The number of Aftercare workers will increase to
ensure prisoners who have completed AOD treatment programmes
are supported to maintain their treatment gains both while
in prison and on their return to the community.
RecoverRing, an 0800 AOD counselling and support service
for people and family/whānau needing lower level AOD
support, will also continue to be available in both prison
and the community.
This funding forms part of the Government’s record $1.9 billion investment in mental health and addiction support for New Zealanders.
ends