A Government inquiry into the escape of convicted murderer and paedophile Phillip John Smith has been extended.

Convicted double murderer Scott Watson has won a court battle which could allow him to meet a journalist behind bars and break his 17-year silence.

If we are to reduce reoffending, and thereby create fewer victims, crime must often be viewed not as the problem but as a symptom of a problem, writes Jarrod Gilbert.

After a full day hearing, a judge has reserved her decision as to whether convicted double murderer Scott Watson can meet a journalist.

Convicted double murderer Scott Watson says after 17 years of silence he now wants the opportunity to speak about his perceived miscarriage of justice.

Auckland Prison has apologised to its neighbours at Paremoremo for an overflowing sewer that has caused a stench sporadically for years.

Labour have condemned the restructuring of the corrections system which will see almost 200 jobs cut.

All frontline Corrections officers are to get new lightweight stab-resistant body armour, in a move that comes after the death of an inmate at Christchurch Men's Prison.

In the decision, Smith was described as a “manipulative, serious criminal with a high risk of reoffending”.

The Samoa-born and Mangere-raised MP Sam Lotu-Iiga has been thrown a $1.5 billion, 4000-staff portfolio as the new Corrections Minister.

Prison beatings happen in New Zealand almost daily and only "good luck" stands in the way of more deaths.

The bid by Phillip John Smith and his sister to have their case transferred to the High Court has been delayed until May.

A teenager accused of murder who is on the run after disconnecting his electronic monitoring anklet called Corrections soon after.

The Corrections Department has given the names of 10,000 offenders to border officials in a bid to prevent another escape in the wake of the Phillip Smith case.

A Brazilian woman who helped identify escaped murderer Phillip John Smith will visit New Zealand after a local man offered to pay for her holiday.

An Auckland Prison officer has been suspended as the Department of Corrections seeks answers on how convicted murderer and paedophile Phillip Smith fled the country.

A computer hacker has demonstrated how home detention bracelets can potentially be fooled into letting criminals roam free.

A male prisoner who's spent the past ten days in Wanganui Hospital managed to escape last night.

Murderer and child sex offender Phillip John Smith's claims that he was aided in his escape to Brazil by a prison guard have angered inmates.

Convicted murderer Phillip Smith's allegations that a Corrections officer helped him escape custody last month are unsubstantiated, the Corrections union says.

Should heads now roll in the upper echelons of the Department of Corrections in the wake of convicted murderer and child molester Phillip John Smith's absconding from temporary release from jail and getting all the to Brazil before being apprehended?

A prison tutor was justifiably dismissed from work after she sent an inmate a postcard while she was overseas.

A prison inspector has rebuked jailers for advising inmates to relieve themselves on vehicle floors.

The Corrections Department has confirmed it is investigating a complaint about a staff member, said to be NZ First MP Asenati Lole-Taylor's husband Dennis Taylor.