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A new drug and alcohol treatment unit at Spring Hill prison in north Waikato is expected to significantly reduce re-offending, Corrections Minister Phil Goff says.
Mr Goff today opened the unit which will treat about 140 inmates a year and is the fourth intensive drug and alcohol treatment unit for prisoners to be opened in the last two years.
There are now six units operating at Rimutaka Prison, Hawke's Bay, Christchurch Men's, Arohata Women's, Waikeria and Spring Hill.
Mr Goff said they played a vital role in the department's efforts to reduce re-offending and the results were significant.
"The re-conviction rate for prisoners who have been through this drug treatment programme is 13 per cent lower than for untreated prisoners," he said.
"When you consider that 60 per cent of offenders are affected by alcohol or other drugs at the time of their offending, and a staggering 83 per cent have abused alcohol or drugs at some point in their lives, the positive impact of such programmes on the overall safety of communities is clear."
Mr Goff said the department would now be able to provide places for 500 prisoners a year on the intensive, six-month addiction treatment course, compared with 40 places in the late 1990s.
"The course is not an easy option. To be eligible, prisoners must be motivated to confront their addiction and accept the need to do something about it," he said.
"Once they have entered the unit, they must adhere to the contract they signed. They must complete the required number of programme hours and agree to attend other activities and work education programmes."
- NZPA
