KEY POINTS:
Barry Matthews , CEO Department Of Corrections
Why do you think corruption is happening in New Zealand prisons? Is it a historical problem or something new?
R Gamble, Auckland
There is always potential for corruption in the prison service as we are dealing on a daily basis with people who have made a career out of lying, deceit and manipulation. I do not believe that corruption in Corrections is widespread, but it is my role to ensure that we are always alert to the possibility of corruption. This includes being aware of the contributing factors which allow corruption to take hold, such as the growing prison muster and the influx of new inexperienced staff needed to deal with this.
Do you think it's possible to stamp out all corruption within prisons?
M White, Waitakere
I suspect it is unrealistic to think we could completely stamp out corruption because of the nature of the people we deal with and the environment we work in. However, it should always remain our target to be so. As such we have set up a new investigations unit to deal with any allegations of corruption, as well as enhancing our intelligence-gathering capabilities at prison sites.
How psychologically difficult is it being a prison officer?
A D Jones, Onehunga
Being a Corrections officer means you are working with manipulative people who have been convicted of serious offending. Feedback I have received suggests this knowledge keeps Corrections officers on their toes as they are always alert to the possibility of manipulation. As such, when Corrections officers are recruited they are psychologically tested to ascertain their suitability for the role and the pressures it brings. This underpins the ongoing training and support they receive.
Does New Zealand have a model prison? If so, how does it operate differently to other prisons?
L Cook, Birkenhead
The Regional Prison Development Project is providing prisons based on international best practice. They incorporate design and features that are intended to be most effective in terms of security, safety and rehabilitation.
Are prison officers paid enough?
T Hamilton, Tauranga
Prisoner officers received up to a 22 per cent pay rise in recent wage negotiations. This is a reflection of the realisation that their salary did not match the expectation of the officers or society considering the important role they play in the safety and protection of the community.
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