New Zealand Faith-based Unit impacted by Lockdown
In late 2007, the New Zealand Department of Corrections implemented an extended time of lockdown for prisoners due to various staffing and budget constraints. In many prisons, including Rimutaka Prison housing the PF New Zealand Faith-based Unit, prisoners are locked in their cells from 5:00pm until 8:00am. While posing challenges to the activities of PF New Zealand volunteers in all programmes, the new lockdown policy offers unique problems for the faith-based unit.
In operation for over four years, the faith-based unit has created a
therapeutic community that assists programme participants to learn new
skills and values for living. Programme areas include Christian
development; community living; constructive activity; family, victim
and community restoration; inmate employment; rehabilitative heeds; and
reintegration services. The new lockdown hours will limit the ability
of the national ministry to effectively deliver these programmes.
Although delivery of the core Christian programme will not suffer,
other aspects--especially those heavily volunteer dependent--will see
significant impact. The ministry estimates that volunteer hours may be
reduced by as much as 47% and mentoring hours can be reduced by as much
as 75% for Operation Jericho, the reintegration programme for those
released from the faith-based unit.
Affected areas also include educational programmes, remedial reading
programmes, Bible studies, and recreational programmes (such as art and
music). Opportunities for unit elders (inmate leaders) to meet for
early Morning Prayer have been eliminated and inmate accountability
group meetings have been reduced from daily to twice a week. Outside
work activities, such as participating in a Habitat for Humanity
building project, are also jeopardised by the new lockdown hours.
PF New Zealand has implemented various strategies to minimise the
affects of the lockdown. One beneficial programme provides Christian
broadcasting directly to televisions in each cell. This television
system --installed by PF New Zealand in 2006-- allows for the delivery
of a 1-hour DVD Bible study curriculum to the individual cells three
nights a week. After viewing the Bible study session, participants
complete the study guide which is collected and marked the next
day.
To increase volunteer contact with the participants, many volunteers
have negotiated with their employers to let them visit Rimutaka during
the day. Some are making arrangements to work at night in order to
facilitate day-time visits.
PF New Zealand continues to negotiate with the Department of
Corrections to find ways to limit the impact of the new lockdown hours
on the programme.
February 2008
