Cells in all New Zealand jails may soon be fitted out with phones and computers in a bid to boost prisoners' educational levels.

From the moment the first prisoner walks into New Zealand's newest jail at Wiri this month, prison staff will start planning for his release.

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.

The deaths of vulnerable people who are in state care or custody could have less independent scrutiny if proposed law changes go ahead.

A prison guard bashed by an inmate at Waikeria Prison suffered a broken nose and three fractures to his eye socket.

Three men have appeared in court today charged with murdering a prisoner at a Christchurch jail.

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

Three men have been charged with murder after a prison inmate they allegedly attacked died on Monday.

An Auckland teen charged with murder, who allegedly escaped bail and evaded authorities for four days, will remain behind bars.

Teenage murder accused Beauen Wallace-Loretz has set up a social media profile to answer questions about his alleged role in an Epsom motel death, claiming online: "I ain't no killer".

Teenage murder accused Beauen Wallace-Loretz is now back in custody after he was found by police in the Auckland region this afternoon.

Teenage murder accused Beauen Wallace-Loretz remains on the run for a fifth day after disconnecting his electronic monitoring anklet.

Murder accused teen on the run after disconnecting his electronic monitoring anklet was terrified he would be returned to prison, a family friend has revealed.

Just days after being freed from an Egyptian prison, Australian journalist Peter Greste says he'd like to return to work as a foreign correspondent.

An Al-Jazeera reporter who spent more than a year in an Egyptian prison returned home to Australia, where he was greeted by friends and relieved family members

Arthur Taylor, whose name never appears in the media without the words "career criminal" shackled to the front of it, has been banged up since 2005 in the maximum security wing of Auckland Prison at Paremoremo.

Australian journalist Peter Greste has revealed it was traumatic leaving his colleagues behind in a Cairo prison and he didn't truly believe he was being freed until he was seated on a plane bound for Cyprus.

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.

New Zealand man faces a hefty fine or years behind bars in an overcrowded Thai jail after he was allegedly caught in possession of illegal drug.

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.

The Wanganui man charged with helping convicted murderer and child molester Phillip Smith get a false passport met him in prison seven years ago.

Dutch researchers have claimed it's possible three inmates who escaped from Alcatraz in 1962 could have survived - but only if their timing was perfect.

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.

Police have busted a major methamphetamine importing ring allegedly being run from behind bars - and a nun has been caught up in the investigation.

Lawyer for convicted murderer and child abuser told Radio New Zealand this morning that prison officials had stripped away his client's dignity.

Nearly three dozen prisoners awaiting trial in a crowded jail in a provincial city north of the Haitian escaped by sawing through steel bars, authorities said.