NZ prisoner count down

AUCKLAND: The stressed prison network has had a great escape.

A string of innovations allowing inmates and those charged with crimes better access to justice services has resulted in a huge fall in inmate numbers.

New Zealand prisons now have 1000 fewer inmates than official projections and the prison population — about 10,200 — has fallen by 600 in the past six months.

The changes have not involved keeping out of prison any people who should have been locked up.

Instead, ‘‘embarrassingly simple’’ wrinkles have been ironed out of the system.

The changes appear to have improved people’s access to justice.

Smaller projects had been under way for about 18 months, but Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis signed off on a permanent programme in January 2018.

The change has been led by Corrections deputy national commissioner Leigh Marsh.

Mr Marsh said innovations included trying to understand why so many on electronic bail were ‘‘failing and clogging up the system’’.

It was found those arrested with literacy issues were being handed complex forms to fill in that they could not understand.

About 70% of those now in prison have literacy level considered insufficient for modern life.

Others could not supply phone numbers, so addresses could be checked as suitable for bail, because the number was saved on a phone which was removed after they were arrested.

Asked how they would get the phone numbers to arrange bail, prisoners had reportedly planned writing letters.

Marsh said his reaction was: ‘‘This is madness. We can do better than this.’’

There were now advisers to help the freshly remanded to better understand why they had been refused bail and to help get details such as phone numbers.

Corrections was also trialling in Wellington a service aimed at assisting those applying for bail.

The bail service would help those charged arrange appropriate bail addresses, and to connect with programmes to address offending, such as services to deal with alcohol and drug abuse.

In the community, others worked to help those on bail understand their conditions and to connect with support.

A smartphone app had been developed that allowed those on bail to have their conditions at hand, receive reminders of court dates and ask for exceptions if needed.

Other innovations included helping those appearing for sentence find a suitable address for home detention, getting police evidence to those accused to enable faster pleas, and ensuring those appearing for parole had taken necessary courses.

Mr Marsh said the prison population had hit a peak of about 10,800 in March and had since fallen to some 10,200 — about 1000 fewer inmates than Ministry of Justice predictions.

The change began to happen about the time the Government was confronted with the 3000bed megaprison plan for the Waikato.

It opted for a smaller expansion and a new mental unit for inmates, many of whom have mental health and addiction issues.

The biggest difference had been in the remand population.

The number of people sent to prison to await trial ballooned after a new 2013 law which made it harder to get bail.

Mr Marsh said the increase in numbers on remand had led to a traffic jam across the criminal justice system.

Mr Davis said the scheme had eased pressure on prisons.

‘‘I just think, why wasn’t this stuff done before?’’ he said.

‘‘We haven’t made changes to any laws. It’s getting efficiencies in the system. We want to look at other ways we can make the system work more efficiently.’’

He said the goal was to reduce the prison population below 10,000, which it was in 2016. — NZME