KEY POINTS:
The Department of Corrections says it is having to deal with the "considerable pressure" of a rapidly-growing prison population.
It has identified this issue as one of the key challenges which it lists in its briefing notes for Corrections Minister Phil Goff, who was given the portfolio in the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
It puts the current prison muster at 8200, a 40 per cent increase in seven years. The peak was 8457 in September this year.
In addition, it manages nearly 75,000 non-custodial sentences.
"Annual prisoner forecasts for each of the last few years have all indicated continued growth into the future," the department said.
"Recent growth has placed strains on the department's operations, facilities, and on the staff who manage offenders."
It attributes the situation to a steady increase in violent crime.
"The number of convictions, and the number of sentences of imprisonment, has continued to rise," it said.
"Average sentence lengths have not changed significantly but prisoners tend to serve a greater proportion of the sentence in prison."
The department said Maori were over-represented at every stage of the criminal justice process.
"Though constituting just 15 per cent of the general population, Maori make up 50 per cent of those in prison and 42 per cent of those on community sentences," it said.
"The rate of imprisonment for Maori is approximately six times that of New Zealand Europeans.
"Maori are more likely to be re-convicted and re-imprisoned once they leave prison or after completing a community sentence."
The department lists as the key challenges it faces:
* Continuing growth in the prison population;
* Recently-introduced community sentences;
* Risks associated with a rapid expansion of operational capacity - high ratios of inexperienced to experienced staff, continuing staff shortages in some areas;
* The push to further increase gains through a range of rehabilitative services and interventions;
* The need to build public confidence in the system; and
* The need for the support and involvement of other government and community agencies.
- NZPA
