PART 9: PRISONS AND INMATES
PRISONS AND INMATES
Age-mixing
RESEARCH
Done by: Gray Matter Research Ltd
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Qualitative study, quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Age-mixing in New Zealand prisons
Author(s): Gray Matter Research Ltd
Completed: YES
Availability: Wellington: Ministry of Justice, 1996. ISBN 0-478-20107-9
Description: Aims. To establish the effects of mixing sentenced and remand inmates aged under 20 with those aged over 20, and to provide information on the effects of age-mixing and segregation. Methodology. Census of young inmates, interviews with staff, young inmates, and other inmates.
Keywords: prison inmates, prisons, sentence administration, youth
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Alcohol and drug disorders
RESEARCH
Done by: Otago University, and Department of Justice Psychological Services
Funded by: Otago University, and Department of Justice Psychological Services
Method: Quantitative study, pilot programme evaluation for a programme that has not happened
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Prevalence of substance use disorders in New Zealand prisons
Author(s): Bushnell, J.A. and L. Bakker
Completed: YES
Availability: Presently submitted for journal publication (June 1996).
Description: [Not supplied, due to up-coming publication]
Keywords: alcohol, alcoholism, drugs, drug dependence, health, prison inmates, sentence administration
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Alcohol and drug services
RESEARCH
Done by: Regional Alcohol and Drug Services (Waitemata Health)
Funded by: Regional Alcohol and Drug Services (Waitemata Health)
Method: Literature review
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Literature review on the provision of alcohol and drug services in prisons in New Zealand
Author(s): Maingay, Samantha and Grant Paton-Simpson
Completed: YES
Availability: Contact Regional Alcohol and Drug Services Research
Unit, Floor 1, Toshiba House,
3 Ferncroft Street, Grafton, Auckland.
Description: Key questions: Why provide treatment? Which treatment models? Who should be eligible for treatment? How should treatment be organised? Who should be involved in providing treatment?
Keywords: alcohol, drugs, prison inmates, rehabilitation
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Censuses
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Justice
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Quantitative study
Status: IN PROGRESS, ongoing
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Census of prison inmates 1989
Author(s): Braybrook, Beverley
Completed: YES, no date
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice. ISBN 0-477-07607-6
Description: This report presents some of the information collected during a census of inmates carried out on 16 November 1989. The information was obtained directly from the prisons or extracted from the Wanganui Computer. In total there were 3084 inmates in the prisons on the day of the census. The muster figures for that week indicate there were 375 remand prisoners within the prisons. In addition, there was one male remand prisoner held in a police jail.
Keywords: classification status, crime statistics, offenders, fine-defaulters, gang association, health status, inmate profile, periodic detention, prison inmates, prisons, property offences, recidivism, remand, traffic offences, violent crime
Notes:
Title: Census of prison inmates 1991
Author(s): Braybrook, Beverley and Pamela Southey
Completed: YES, 1992
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, December 1992. ISBN 0-477-07647-5
Description: This report presents some of the information collected during a census of inmates carried out on 14 November 1991. The information was obtained directly from the prisons or extracted from the Wanganui Computer. In total there were 3821 sentences inmates in the prisons on the day of the census. In addition, there were 411 remand prisoners within the prisons, and a further 19 in police jails.
Keywords: classification status, crime statistics, gang association, health status, inmate profile, offences, offenders, payment defaulters, periodic detention, prison inmates, prisons, programmes, property offences, recidivism, remand, sentence administration, sentencing, traffic offences, violent crime
Notes:
Title: Census of prison inmates 1993
Author(s): Southey, Pamela, Philip Spier and Nicolette Edgar
Completed: YES, 1995
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, July 1995. ISBN
0-477-07687-4,
ISSN 1173-5422
Description: A census of prison inmates was carried out on 18 November 1993. Information was collected for sentenced inmates and remand prisoners from three sources: prison staff, inmates, and the Wanganui Computer. On the day of the census there were: 3761 sentences inmates (117 females and 3644 male) and two payment-defaulters (one female and one male); and 500 remand prisoners (14 female and 486 male) within the prisons. Comparison with previous prison censuses: (1) There were fewer inmates than in 1991. (2) The trend towards an older prison population continued. Sixty-five percent of inmates were aged 25 and over in 1993 compared with 52% in 1987. The number of young offenders aged between 15 and 19 in prison decreased from 447 in 1987 to 299 in 1993. (3) The number of male inmates serving sentences of life imprisonment or preventive detention has continued to increase. (4) Since 1987 there has been an increase in the proportion of inmates in prison for the first time. (5) Inmates are more likely to be in prison for violent offences and less likely to be in prison for property offences. (6) The proportion of male inmates in protective custody has increased from 9% in 1987 to 16% in 1993. (7) The number of remand prisoners has increased from 303 in 1987 to 500 in 1993.
Keywords: classification status, crime statistics, gang association, health status, inmate profile, offences, offenders, payment defaulters, periodic detention, prison inmates, prisons, programmes, property offences, recidivism, remand, sentence administration, sentencing, traffic offences, violent crime
Notes:
Title: Census of prison inmates 1995
Author(s): Braybrook, Beverley and Pamela Southey
Completed: YES,
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, December 1996
Description: This report presents some of the information collected during a census of inmates carried out in November 1995.
Keywords: classification status, crime statistics, education, ethnic issues, gang association, health status, inmate profile, Maori, offences, offenders, Pacific Islands peoples, payment defaulters, periodic detention, prison inmates, prisons, programmes, property offences, recidivism, remand, sentence administration, sentencing, traffic offences, violent crime
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Child sex offender treatment I
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Corrections Psychological Service
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Literature review, quantitative study, established programme evaluation
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Assessment and modification of sexual arousal in child sex offenders
Author(s): Johnston, Peter
Completed: NO, expected completion date December 1996
Availability: For publication in professional literature.
Description: ABSTRACT. Sexual preference has been identified as an important component in the motivational matrix of many sexual offenders against children. Deviant sexual cues or behaviours are understood to elicit maximal arousal in the offender, who then experiences a preference for these cues or for behaviour motivated by the stronger sexual arousal. This preference for sexual interaction with children is understood to be a learned phenomenon, and thus modifiable. In recent years there has been a huge expansion in knowledge of the assessment and treatment of sex offenders. One aspect of treatment is techniques designed to alter sexual preference. A number of procedures have been developed, but controlled outcome evaluations are sorely needed. The present study employed a combination of two techniques - directed masturbation and verbal satiation - and utilised phallometry to assess the degree of change. Three groups, each of ten child sex offenders, underwent phallometric assessments and treatment in a multiple base-line, across groups design. Results suggest that directed masturbation, as conducted here, was not effective in enhancing the level of arousal of offenders towards adult stimuli. Verbal satiation however appears to have resulted in a significant reduction in arousal to deviant stimuli. The use of repeated phallometric assessments with some participants in this study also permitted an investigation into the reliability of phallometric measurement. Results indicate, on the whole, that phallometry is a somewhat unreliable form of assessment with child sex offenders. Implications of these findings, with respect to the underlying theoretical assumptions of phallometry, are discussed.
Keywords: offenders, rehabilitation, sexual abuse
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Child sex offender treatment II
RESEARCH
Done by: Author
Funded by: Author/Department of Corrections
Method: Literature review, qualitative study
Status: IN PROGRESS, expected completion date 1999/2000
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Salient experience in child sex offender treatment groups: an analysis of the interpersonal factors contributing to therapeutic engagement of offenders involved in a treatment programme
Author(s): Frost, Andrew
Completed: NO, planned completion date 1999/2000
Availability: -
Description: Grounded theory-based study involving comparative analysis of data culled from video taped treatment sessions and subsequent interviews etc. of men participating in treatment for child sex offending.
Keywords: engagement, grounded theory, group treatment, offenders, prison inmates, rehabilitation, sentence administration, sexual abuse
Notes: To be submitted as PhD thesis, Canterbury University.
PRISONS AND INMATES
Child sex offender treatment-Kia Marama
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Corrections Psychological Service
Funded by: Department of Corrections
Method: Established programme evaluation
Status: IN PROGRESS, expected completion date (for report) July 1997
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Evaluation of Kia Marama [working title]
Author(s): [Psychological Service, Department of Corrections]
Completed: NO, planned completion date July 1997
Availability: [Not provided]
Description: Evaluation of a special unit for the treatment of child sex offenders at Rolleston Prison, Christchurch.
Keywords: [Not provided]
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Children of mothers in prison
RESEARCH
Done by: Author
Funded by: Ministry of Justice, Department of Social Welfare, and Crime Prevention Unit
Method: Literature review, qualitative study, quantitative study
Status: IN PROGRESS, expected completion date late 1997
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Children of mothers in prison (working title)
Author(s): Kingi, Venezia M.
Completed: NO, planned for late 1997
Availability: -
Description: To interview women in prison, to find out where their children were, who was caring for them, and what problems mothers, children and caregivers faced. Face-to-face interviews with sample of 56 women from the three prisons, and 11 caregivers. Qualitative interviewing of women in prison about their ongoing relationship with their children, how they are sustained, the difficulties of managing them from within the prison environment. Follow-up underway.
Keywords: at-risk families, prison inmates, prisoners' children, prisons, sentence administration, youth
Notes: PhD thesis, Victoria University of Wellington
Title: Mothers in prison
Author(s): Kingi, Venezia M.
Completed: YES and NO - see below
Availability: Not published, not available (due to overlap with the doctoral thesis). First phase of work summarised in: Criminology No.4, September 1995; Wellington: Institute of Criminology, Victoria University of Wellington.
Description: Initial report from author's thesis, looking at female primary care-givers in prison. Policy recommendations made. Looking at demographics and the concerns the women had about their children and the ideas they had for improvement.
Keywords: prisoners' children, prison inmates, prisons, sentence administration, youth
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Correctional history
RESEARCH
Done by: Authors
Funded by: -
Method: Literature review, qualitative study, interviews, observation
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: History and development of modern correctional practices in New Zealand
Author(s): Newbold, Greg and Chris Eskridge
Completed: YES
Availability: In Comparative Criminal Justice. Moore, K. and C. Fields (Eds). Project Heights, Illinois: Waveland
Description: This chapter looks at the history and development of correctional practices in New Zealand. It commences in 1840, but concentrates on trends which followed the Criminal Justice Act 1985.
Keywords: community corrections, offences, prisons, sentence administration, sentencing effectiveness, system efficiency/effectiveness
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Corrective Training for females
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Justice
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: An evaluation of reconviction rates for female corrective trainees
Author(s): Harland, Anne
Completed: YES, 1987
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, October 1989. ISBN 0-477-07235-6
Description: The study examines re-offending among females sentenced to corrective training. The primary objective of a corrective training sentence is to reduce re-offending by the experience of a punitive but fair sentence. Sixty-three percent of female trainees were reconvicted within the first year following their release from corrective training. The female corrective trainees studied were socially disadvantaged in terms of their educational achievement, level of unemployment, and their history of juvenile offending. They generally had fewer previous convictions than male corrective trainees (21.5% of females had no or one previous conviction compared with 7.0% of males). Seventy-one percent were classified as Maori. The study concludes that the corrective training sentence is failing to meet its primary objective among female trainees.
Keywords: crime statistics, criminal behaviour, offenders, recidivism, sentence administration, sentencing, sentencing effectiveness
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Driving while disqualified prisoners
RESEARCH
Done by: Policy and Research, Department of Justice
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Those in prison for driving while disqualified
Author(s): Lash, Barb
Completed: YES, May 1995
Availability: Contact author, Ministry of Justice, P O Box 180, Wellington
Description: Information from censes of prison inmates 1993. Identified all offences for which driving while disqualified offenders were in prison, patterns of previous offending, previous sentences, and demographic information.
Keywords: crime statistics, offences, prison inmates, sentence administration, traffic offences
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Drug programmes in USA and Canada
RESEARCH
Done by: Author
Funded by: Winston Churchill Fellowship Fund, and Department of Corrections
Method: Established programme evaluation
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Drug treatment programmes for prisoners and parolees in USA and Canada
Author(s): Grenfell, Fleur
Completed: YES, 1995
Availability: Available through Department of Internal Affairs, Winston Churchill Fellowship Division.
Description: [abridged]. Introduction. The purpose of my five week study tour [July/August 1994] to USA and Canada was to investigate effective prison based treatment programmes and more specifically to: identify those programmes which reduce drug dependency and therefore re-offending; and identify programmes and programme components which could effectively be applied to New Zealand prisons... Conclusions. Details of the 13 programmes I spent time in follow, and the critical success factors I identified with the enthusiastic assistance and concurrence of my various hosts were as follows: programme integrity, programme autonomy, programme flexibility, a therapeutic setting/community, programme duration of 6 to 9 months, separated facilities/units, confrontation and support merged, cross training, selected custodial staff, cognitive skills training, programme phases/stages, treating addiction and criminality, transition and after care/post release treatment, research and evaluation, getting started.
Keywords: drugs, prison inmates, programmes, recidivism, rehabilitation
Notes: "I have also reviewed re-offending rates of inmates released from Arohata at various intervals over the past 10 years." Contact Fleur Grenfell, General Manager, Arohata Prison, Private Bag 51-901, Tawa, Wellington.
PRISONS AND INMATES
Effective administration
RESEARCH
Done by: Author
Funded by: -
Method: Literature review, qualitative study, interviews
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: What works in prison management
Author(s): Newbold, Greg
Completed: YES
Availability: Federal Probation, 1992; 56(4):53-7
Description: This paper uses the history of maximum security prison management in New Zealand to discuss some of the factors involved in effective prison administration.
Keywords: prison inmates, prisons, sentence administration, system efficiency/effectiveness
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Female inmate forecasts
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Justice
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: The recent increase in the female prison muster
Author(s): Kettles, Susan
Completed: YES
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, 1989. ISBN 0-477-07209-7
Description: Although any long term trends are somewhat obscured by fluctuations from year to year in the female prison muster, this research identifies a long term gradual increase in the muster, caused by long term changes in: the number of women sentenced to imprisonment, their average sentence lengths, and the proportions of their sentences served.
Keywords: female inmates, forecasting and modelling, prison inmates, sentence administration
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Female prisoners' needs
RESEARCH
Done by: Institute of Criminology (Victoria University of Wellington), and University of Cambridge
Funded by: Home Office, London
Method: Qualitative study, quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Re-offending by female prisoners: preventable or predictable?
Author(s): Morris, A., C. Wilkinson, A. Tisi, J. Woodrow and A. Rockley
Completed: YES
Availability: In Criminology No. 3, 1995. Wellington: Institute of Criminology, Victoria University of Wellington
Description: Research project on the needs of female prisoners, examining the adequacy of arrangements for through-care and after-care. Sample of 200 women in three prisons in England.
Keywords: gender issues, prison inmates, recidivism, sentence administration
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Forecasting prison populations
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Justice
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Forecasting New Zealand's prison population
Author(s): Triggs, Sue
Completed: YES
Availability: Wellington: Ministry of Justice, 1995. ISBN 0-478-20101-X
Description: This report introduces a new model to forecast the number and type of inmates in New Zealand prisons. It outlines the structure of the model, details the key factors that determine the model's assumptions, and presents forecasts of the size and composition of the prison population for a range of scenarios... The model simulates the flow of inmates through prison. Three key variables determine inmate numbers: the number of new receptions into prison, the length of the imposed sentence, and the proportion of the sentence served. Projections of these variables are based on past trends, modified by analysis of the causes of these trends, the impact of legislative and policy changes, and expert opinion. The report includes information on trends in reported crime, convictions, prison receptions, and sentencing.
Keywords: crime statistics, forecasting and modelling, offences, offenders, prison inmates, prisons, sentence administration, sentencing,
Notes:
Title: Forecasting the number of people in prison using time series techniques from July 1989 to December 1992
Author(s): Lash, Barb
Completed: YES
Availability: Contact author, Ministry of Justice, P O Box 180, Wellington
Description: The report presents results of using ARIMA and OLS methods to forecasrt the number of people in prisons.
Keywords: crime statistics, forecasting and modelling, prison inmates, sentencing
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Habilitation of offenders
RESEARCH
Done by: Author
Funded by: Churchill Fellowship
Method: Qualitative study, quantitative study, established programme evaluation, experiential study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: The habilitation of offenders
Author(s): Dyer, Bruce D.
Completed: YES, 1994
Availability: Auckland: Mental Health Foundation, (P O Box 10-051).
Cost $12.00.
ISBN 0-908727-66-6
Description: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY [abridged]. Habilitation means to equip and make fit for life. A central issue of habilitation is enabling offenders to reclaim their humanity. This is largely negated in the prison system in which they are seldom treated as human beings...New Zealand's legislative provision for Habilitation Centres is likely to attract world-wide attention and deserves maximum community and Government support. In all, 19 programmes were visited during the course of 1991 and 1992 [in New Zealand and overseas]. In order to gain familiarity with different treatment approaches and to develop awareness of the primary issues involved, approximately 11 months was spent working in five of these programmes. Assessment of their performance objectively was possible in respect of those that had been the subject of research and evaluation...
Keywords: crime prevention, offenders, rehabilitation, sentencing effectiveness
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
HIV/AIDS and prisons
RESEARCH
Done by: Health Research Services (Department of Health)
Funded by: Department of Health, and Department of Justice
Method: Literature review, qualitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: HIV/AIDS and prisons: a study of knowledge, attitudes and risk behaviours
Author(s): Patten, Dean (with a contribution from Alison Gray)
Completed: YES, 1991
Availability: Department of Health Discussion Paper 16, 1991. ISSN 1170 263X
Description: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY [abridged]. HIV/AIDS presents a major policy and management challenge to prisons systems in many countries. This report offers considerable insight into the issues of HIV/AIDS and New Zealand prisons. It presents the findings of the first empirical study of the risk of HIV (the AIDS virus) transmission in New Zealand prisons... This paper presents the findings of research conducted during 1990 with inmates and prison personnel about: knowledge and attitudes about AIDS and possible risk behaviours; perceptions and experiences of possible risk behaviours for HIV transmission among inmates, particularly tattooing, injecting drug use and unsafe sexual practices; and attitudes and concerns about HIV/AIDS policies and practices in prisons... Research was conducted in two women's and five men's prisons. Interviewer-administered questionnaire interviews with 190 [sentenced] inmates, individual interviews with 24 inmates, 7 group discussions; individual interviews with 28 custodial staff and 14 management staff, seven group discussions with custodial staff, written questionnaires completed by 34 specialist staff. The findings are considered indicative, rather than representative, of the knowledge and attitudes of inmates and prison personnel and the risk behaviours of inmates in the seven prisons studied. No attempt has been made to generalise the results.
Keywords: attitudes, criminal behaviour, drugs, health, HIV/AIDS, prison inmates, prisons, sentence administration
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Inmate classification systems
RESEARCH
Done by: Health Research and Analytical Services (Ministry of Health)
Funded by: Ministry of Justice
Method: Literature review
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Assessing the validity and reliability of objective inmate classification systems
Author(s): Lange, Craig and Ray Kirk
Completed: YES
Availability: Wellington: Ministry of Justice, May 1996. ISBN 0-478-20110-9
Description: A review of the literature assessing the validity and reliability of objective inmate classification systems.
Keywords: prison inmates, prisons, sentence administration, system efficiency/effectiveness
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Inmate prediction model
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Justice
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Impact of age shifts in the New Zealand population on the inmate population: 1989-1998
Author(s): Braybrook, Beverley
Completed: YES, 1989
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, October 1989. ISBN 0-477-07201-1
Description: This paper estimates the effect that age shifts in the New Zealand population will have on the prison population for the ten year period 1989 to 1998. Over this time period the total population is expected to become progressively older with a median age of 33.4 years in 1998 compared with 30.4 years in 1988. For the sub-population aged 15 years and over, the proportion of females and males between 15 and 29 years is expected to decline. Age shifts are expected to have little effect on female inmate numbers with only small increases and decreases being apparent over the ten year period. The level of change that can be attributed to age shifts for male inmates is expected to increase from 25 in 1989 to a peak of 90 in 1993, then decline to 38 in 1998. Overall the inmate populations are expected to become older with a smaller proportion of inmates under 30 years of age in 1998 than in 1988.
Keywords: crime statistics, demography, forecasting and modelling, prison inmates
Notes:
Title: Influence of demographic changes and other factors on prison receptions: 1978-1987
Author(s): Braybrook, Beverley
Completed: YES, 1989
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, October 1989. ISBN 0-477-07206-2
Description: This paper examines trends in the number of prisoners received over the ten year period 1978 to 1987, and estimates the influence of demographic changes and other factors. Since reaching a peak in 1983, the number of 15-19 year olds entering prison has generally been declining. In comparison, more 25-29 year olds have entered prison than in the years prior to 1983, with more receptions in 1987 than in any previous year. Similar trends have occurred in the prison reception rates, that is, in the number of receptions per 100,000 population. More males aged between 30 and 34 years have entered prison since 1983 than in previous years, with more receptions in 1987 than in any other year. Reception rates for inmates aged 30 years and over are generally much less than for other inmates. In general, demographic changes accounted for a smaller proportion of changes in prison receptions than other factors. For example, demographic changes accounted for 24.6% of the decrease in the number of 20-24 year old males received between 1984 and 1987, The amount of change attributable to demographic changes varied across age groups and comparison years.
Keywords: crime statistics, demography, forecasting and modelling, prison inmates
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Mana Programme
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Corrections
Funded by: Department of Corrections
Method: Pilot programme evaluation
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: The Mana Programme: a preliminary evaluation
Author(s): Asher, B. and A. Langthaller
Completed: YES, December 1995
Availability: Apply to author, Bruce Asher, Department of Corrections, P O Box 1206, Wellington.
Description: Evaluation of a programme for inmates at Tongariro/Rangipo prison, delivered by inmates themselves, aiming to raise self-esteem and life-skills. Inspection of documents and interviews with key people.
Keywords: alcohol, drugs, prison inmates, rehabilitation, sentence administration
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Maximum security prison history
RESEARCH
Done by: Author
Funded by: University Grants Committee, Auckland
Method: Literature review, qualitative study, interviews
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Punishment and politics: the maximum security prison in New Zealand
Author(s): Newbold, Greg
Completed: YES
Availability: Oxford University Press, 1987
Description: This book is an enquiry into the history of prison security in New Zealand. It reviews the establishment and development of Mt Eden and Paremoremo, from 1880 to the present, and gives a detailed account of the policy and practice of prison management in New Zealand over the last forty years. The author evaluates the many factors which contributed to changes in penal policy and prison practice. Some, such as the move back to capital punishment in the fifties, were the product of political and social forces outside gaol; some were caused by administrators (and Newbold's analysis is penetrating, and often damning); while others were forced by action from the prisoners themselves. 'Governments', said Hegel, 'have never learned anything from history'. But the story told here, of outmoded policy, bureaucratic ineptitude, administrative bungles, corruption, and scandal, contains some important lessons for penal administrators and politicians.
Keywords: prison inmates, prisons, sentence administration, system efficiency/effectiveness
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Mental health de-institutionalisation
RESEARCH
Done by: Author
Funded by: -
Method: Literature review
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Deinstitutionalisation and the criminalisation of the mentally ill
Author(s): Hartley, Anne
Completed: YES, February 1995
Availability: Available from libraries at Victoria University of Wellington, and Ministry of Justice, P O Box 180, Wellington.
Description: ABSTRACT. This paper considers by way of a literature review whether the trend towards community care of the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped has any relationship to the increasing size of New Zealand's correctional population and whether it has affected its composition. Similarities of experience in a number of jurisdictions are identified but there are difficulties in reaching firm conclusions about links between de-institutionalisation and the numbers of former patients and those with a current mental illness in the criminal justice system. These difficulties are compounded by the lack of robust data and the clear belief of correctional staff that they are experiencing increased numbers of disturbed offenders. Recommendations to address these difficulties are made.
Keywords: community corrections, courts, de-institutionalisation, legislation impacts, mental health, police, prison inmates, prisons
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
NZPARS and their clients
RESEARCH
Done by: Author
Funded by: NZPARS
Method: Qualitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: PARS: what the inmates say
Author(s): New Zealand Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society (Inc.)
Completed: YES
Availability: Contact NZPARS, P O Box 9186, Wellington.
Description: A survey of prison inmates' opinions about the services provided by New Zealand Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society (Inc.) (NZPARS), a community group offering support services to prisoners and their families.
Keywords: prison inmates, prisons, service evaluation
Notes: Research done by two social work students from Victoria University.
PRISONS AND INMATES
Paremoremo described
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Justice Penal Division
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Quantitative study, historical research
Status: YES
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Paremoremo: New Zealand's maximum security prison
Author(s): Meek, John
Completed: YES
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, June 1986. ISBN 0-477-07206-2
Description: This study 1. provides an overview of the prison's facilities, functions and operational methods; 2. describes its history; 3. investigates problems associated with inmates who are gang members and inmates suffering from some form of psychiatric or emotional disturbance; and 4. profiles the inmate population in terms of race, age, offence and length of sentence, previous prison sentences, escapes records, classification, length of continuous residence at Paremoremo, inmates' home regions and some social characteristics.
Keywords: classification, gang members, health, inmate profile, maximum security prison, prison inmates, prisons, psychiatrically disturbed inmates, sentence administration
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Parole decision making
RESEARCH
Done by: Author
Funded by: -
Method: Literature review, quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Decision making in District Prisons Boards
Author(s): Brown, Mark M.
Completed: YES, 1992
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice. pp 160. Contact
Ministry of Justice,
P O Box 180, Wellington.
Description: ABSTRACT. The Criminal Justice Act 1985 substantially expanded the system of parole release in New Zealand. At the time of this study, approximately 90% of offenders serving custodial sentences were eligible to be considered for early release by one of the country's 17 District Prisons Boards. The aim of the present study was to examine the system of District Prisons Boards parole release, providing a full description of boards' operations and procedures and evaluating inmates' post-release performance using a traditional parole outcome measure - re-offending. With regard to boards' operations and procedures, results showed that board members lacked any clear conception of an over-arching framework guiding their operations, that members were broadly oriented towards reducing re-offending, but that a strong rehabilitative ethic found them regarding parole as providing an opportunity to reduce risk of re-offending through the provision of release programmes rather than through the identification and prolonged detention of high risk inmates. Examination of decision making criteria showed members to over-report the numbers of factors commonly considered. A statistical model based upon seven biographical variables was able to accurately predict 77% of release decisions made by boards. The proportion of inmates released on parole was found to vary widely between boards, and these substantial variations were found to be robust when controlling for inmates' custodial security level. A 30 month follow-up found 77% of all inmates to have been reconvicted and 45% to have been returned to prison during the period. No difference was found in the reconviction rates of inmates denied parole and released at 2/3 of sentence on remission, and inmates granted parole and released at an earlier date. However, remission release inmates tended to be reconvicted earlier than parolees and, when reconvicted, were more likely to receive a further sentence of imprisonment. Ten biographical factors were found to differentiate reoffenders and non-reoffenders and, when combined in a prediction model, knowledge of these factors allowed approximately 80% of re-offenders to be correctly predicted. These findings are discussed and their implications for District Prisons Board policy outlined.
Keywords: community corrections, offenders, parole decision making, recidivism, risk assessment, sentencing, sentencing effectiveness
Notes: SEE "description" field of associated thesis "An analysis of decision making in District Prison Boards" for a list of journal publications. This publication is from the thesis: "...chapters 3,4 and 5...reproduced here in their entirety"(Preface).
Title: An analysis of decision-making in District Prison Boards
Author(s): Brown, Mark
Completed: YES, 1991
Availability: Victoria University of Wellington Library, P O Box 600, Wellington.
Description: SEE "Description" for preceding "Decision-making in District Prisons Boards". Other publications directly related to this research include the following. 1. Brown, M. Improving decision making in community corrections: a decision-making styles approach. In Community corrections in the 21st century: challenge, choice and change, Wortley, R. and A. Stewart (Eds). Brisbane: Centre for Crime Policy and Public Safety. In press. 2. Brown, M. A test of high risk principle for rehabilitation programming. In Community corrections in the 21st century: challenge, choice and change, Wortley, R. and A. Stewart (Eds). Brisbane: Centre for Crime Policy and Public Safety. In press. 3. Brown, M. Community protection and indefinite sentencing. In VACRO Reporter, 1995; 3(1-3). 4. Brown, M. and N. Cameron. A critique of dangerous offender provisions in the Criminal Justice Amendment Act 1993. In New Zealand Law Journal, December 1995; 419-24.
Keywords: community corrections, offenders, parole decision making, recidivism, risk assessment, sentencing, sentencing effectiveness
Notes: Unpublished PhD thesis.
PRISONS AND INMATES
Parole decisions
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Justice
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Quantitative study, established programme evaluation
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Parole decisions of district prisons boards
Author(s): Asher, Bruce
Completed: YES, 1988
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, July 1988. ISBN 0-477-07207-0
Description: The purpose of this study was to monitor the parole provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1985, as applied by District Prisons Boards. The period covered by the study was October 1986 to March 1987. In this time, District Prisons Boards considered 2193 cases, of whom 26% did not want to be released on parole. Of those who did apply for parole, 62% were released, 16% had their cases postponed and 22% were refused. In all 981 prisoners were granted release, 81% of these being ordered to undergo a programme. Treatment for alcohol or drug dependency was the main type of programme ordered. Inmates not wishing release on parole cited concerns about post-release supervision and short lengths of time between board date and 2/3 date as their major reasons.
Keywords: legislation impacts, parole, prison inmates, prisons, programmes, sentence administration
Notes:
Title: Monitoring the innovations of the Criminal Justice Act (1985)
Author(s): Whitney, Lynne and Keith Sullivan
Completed: YES
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, 1989. ISBN 0-477-07233-X
Description: This report examines the use of some provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1985 over the three years since its introduction. It covers: offers to make amends (s12), witnesses as to cultural and family background (s16), deferred commencement of imprisonment or corrective training on humanitarian grounds (s78(2)), breaches of parole conditions (s105), recalls of offenders released on parole (s106(4)), and case studies of parolees who have completed programmes. This research report describes the way in which and extent to which these provisions have been utilised, and, in the case of parolees who have been allocated to programmes, provides evaluation data on the effectiveness of those programmes.
Keywords: cultural background, ethnic issues, family background, legislation impacts, parole, programme effectiveness, recidivism, witnesses
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Parole recommendations and decisions
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Justice
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Parole board recommendations and subsequent release decisions
Author(s): Oxley, Prue
Completed: YES, 1985
Availability: Department of Justice Study Series No. 16, November 1985. ISSN 0110-5779
Description: This report examines the relationship between Parole Board recommendations and the Minister's decision whether to release prisoners or not. A survey of Parole Board recommendations was conducted and this report summarises: (a) Parole Board consideration of cases and recommendations; (b) subsequent release decisions; (c) consequent time served in custody. Overall, 15% of life and preventive detention Parole Board reviews resulted in a positive release recommendation compared with 31% for finite sentences. The Minister approved only 70% of release recommendations in life and preventive detention cases compared with 97% in finite sentences. In life and preventive detention cases, the Minister approved release after the Board's first release recommendation 81% of the time compared with 97% in finite cases. On average life sentences were 9 years 2 months in custody and preventive detention served 10 years 3 months in custody.
Keywords: life sentence, parole board recommendations, preventive detention, prison inmates, release decisions, sentence administration
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Primary care-giver inmates
RESEARCH
Done by: Gray Matter Research Ltd
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Qualitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Male inmates who were primary care givers of their children before reception
Author(s): Gray Matter Research Ltd
Completed: YES
Availability: Ministry of Justice, May 1996. ISBN 0-478-20108-7
Description: Aims. To describe the care arrangements that have been made for the children of sentenced male inmates who were primary care givers. To identify any issues related to that care, and to contact between the children and the inmate. Methodology. Survey of sentenced inmates to identify the sample population. Face to face interviews with inmates who said they were care givers.
Keywords: children of inmates, prison inmates, sentence administration
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Prison privatisation
RESEARCH
Done by: Authors
Funded by: -
Method: Literature review, qualitative study, interviews, field observation
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: The privatization of corrections in New Zealand
Author(s): Newbold, G. and M. Smith
Completed: YES
Availability: In Privatization and the provision of correctional services. Cincinnati: Anderson, 1996
Description: This chapter surveys the current status of private corrections in New Zealand and discusses the prospects for the future. It considers why the move towards privatisation has been made in New Zealand, and what the consequences may be.
Keywords: prisons, sentence administration, system efficiency/effectiveness
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Psychiatric disorders
RESEARCH
Done by: Christchurch Medical School
Funded by: Department of Justice, Ministry of Justice
Method: Quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Psychiatric morbidity in prisons: an investigation of the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among New Zealand prisoners - Pilot Study
Author(s): Brinded, D.P. et al.
Completed: YES, December 1995
Availability: Apply to Angela Lee, Ministry of Justice, P O Box 180, Wellington.
Description: To ascertain the prevalence of psychiatric disorder among New Zealand prison inmates, both remand and sentenced. Diagnostic interviews in Christchurch prisons with all remand, all female, and one-in-four sentenced male inmates.
Keywords: alcohol, drugs, mental health, prison inmates, psychiatric disorder, psychiatric morbidity, sentence administration
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Reasons for escapes
RESEARCH
Done by: Centre for Research, Evaluation and Social Assessment
Funded by: Department of Justice, and Ministry of Justice
Method: Literature review, qualitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Escapes pressures: inside views of the reasons for prison escapes
Author(s): Centre for Research, Evaluation and Social Assessment
Completed: YES, June 1996. Will be published soon by Ministry of Justice and Department of Corrections.
Availability: Ministry of Justice and Department of Corrections. ISBN 0-478-20113-3
Description: Study to investigate reasons given by inmates for escapes. Also whether post-escape interviews were being administered by prison management. Data was collected from the international and NZ based literature; escape-specific administrative documentation, interviews with inmates who had escaped and been recaptured, and a survey of prison management staff.
Keywords: escapes, prison inmates, prisons, sentence administration, system efficiency/effectiveness
Notes:
PRISONS AND INMATES
Substance abuse
RESEARCH
Done by: Department of Justice
Funded by: Department of Justice
Method: Qualitative study, quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: Substance abuse: a survey of the treatment needs of prison inmates
Author(s): Whitney, Lynne
Completed: YES, 1992
Availability: Wellington: Department of Justice, September 1992. ISBN 0-477-07639-4
Description: The aims were: to identify the extent of alcohol and drug abuse in the lifestyles of those who become inmates in New Zealand prisons; to examine the need for education, support and treatment for substance abuse within prisons; and, to identify strengths and weaknesses in the existing services provided to prisons for substance abuse. Information was drawn from two sources: interviews conducted with inmates identified by prisons as substance abusers, and a questionnaire sent to all prisons. Over two thirds of female inmates and about six in ten male inmates are likely to be affected by drugs or alcohol abuse to some degree. The inmate's age, the inmate's ethnic origin, and the inmate's level of motivation are characteristics that might be useful to help identify inmates at greater risk with respect to substance abuse, and inmates who are less likely to have had some assistance. Information supplied by prisons pointed to two factors which both have implications for service providers. These were: the wide variability in the rate of identification of substance abuse among inmates, and the variability of services for substance abuse.
Keywords: alcohol, drugs, education, prevalence, prison inmates, programmes, sentence administration, treatment needs
Notes:
