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Jail bosses have been told to do some "sniffing around" as signs emerge that corruption may not be unique to Rimutaka Prison.
Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews said yesterday other prisons were being scrutinised for a Rimutaka-like culture, in which corruption had been allowed to fester.
He is certain the inquiry into Rimutaka will snare further staff for corruption - two have already been suspended - and may even lead to a shake-up of the prison's management.
Since the department admitted problems at the prison, it has faced allegations that corruption is widespread in the country's jails.
Mr Matthews and Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor have rejected that and resisted starting further inquiries. But Mr Matthews said yesterday there were signs of corruption at other prisons and he had asked managers to do some "sniffing around".
He likened prison corruption to rust on a car - it's not always visible, but investigating any signs of it could uncover a wider problem plaguing the whole system.
"We've got a big problem with rust at Rimutaka, but we've got some indications we could have it wider than Rimutaka, so we need to be alert to that," Mr Matthews said.
"I can't give any absolute guarantees that everywhere else is hunky dory, but what we've got to do is be alert to any indications [of corruption], and when we have, get in and start dealing with it.
"We've talked to a lot of the managers [saying], 'You need to be aware you could have a problem in your area - what are you doing about it'?"
He declined to name any prisons of concern as it could compromise intelligence gathering.
Mr Matthews maintained that the majority of the department's staff and its operations were professional and competent. He rejected what he called politically-motivated claims that the department was a shambles.
The suspended Rimutaka officers are the first scalps of a continuing inquiry that began in November.
Two officers at Christchurch Men's Prison have also been suspended for corruption.
Mr Matthews expected more corrupt staff at Rimutaka to be exposed.
The inquiry was also looking into whether managers and supervisors had properly followed up claims of corruption.
"We have got some instances where people have raised concerns and things haven't been done, so in that sense I am concerned about the supervision and management [at Rimutaka]," Mr Matthews said.
"If we've got concern about individuals who have not undertaken supervisory duty where they clearly should have, we will take action."
The department has suffered a string of incidents that have seen the Opposition calling for accountability and for heads to roll.
But Mr Matthews said he had the support of the Government and his employer, State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble.
"I have not offered my resignation. I've constantly been told by the minister and through public comments from the Prime Minister that they have confidence in me."
Corrections Restructuring
The Corrections Department is restructuring its services to prevent situations where released prisoners turn up to see a probation officer, but the officer has no idea who they are or why they are there.
Chief executive Barry Matthews revealed yesterday there had been incidents where probation had not been told of the release of a prisoner, though he could not give specific examples.
"There were instances where the first that probation were aware that a prisoner was being released into their area was when [the person on parole] turned up on the probation officer's door and said, 'Hi ... I've just been released from prison'," Mr Matthews said.
"I'd be confident that's not happening now, and I'm not saying it always happened, but when I spoke to staff they relayed some instances where that happened and we can't allow that at all."
Mr Matthews hoped that several restructuring proposals would improve communication between prisons and probation services.
Other proposed changes included the introduction of an internal investigations team to take swift action on any corruption claims, and more robust and complete training programmes for staff.
Mr Matthews admitted that an influx of prisoners and new staff in recent years had put some prisons under strain. Corrections staff are being consulted over the proposed changes, which could be in place by July.
