KEY POINTS:
New Zealand has more prison volunteers per inmate than any other country in the world, a Christian volunteer group says.
Prison Fellowship national director Kim Workman said the number of volunteers had doubled in the past five or six years.
"There are currently over 3000 volunteers and around 7500 prisoners - that equates to 40 per cent of the total prisoner population."
Mr Workman said Canada was second at 28 per cent while Australia and other OECD countries were "lagging well behind".
The large number of volunteers reflected the Department of Corrections growing commitment to volunteers, he said.
"The recent establishment of a Prison Volunteering Advisory Group which advises the department on volunteer issues, has further enhanced the relationship."
Mr Workman said 85 per cent of volunteers came from churches.
"This negates the image of New Zealand Christians as being punitive, narrowly moralistic, and condemning in their attitude toward prisoners," he said.
One recently retired volunteer had been visiting prisons weekly since 1946.
`They're a remarkable bunch," he said.
- NZPA
