There has been a lot of media over the past week focussed on the need to improve the prisons. I must say that I have been disturbed by Kelvin Davis’ ‘blame the victim’ stance. I am aware that there are some very nefarious characters in New Zealand prisons, but there is enough corroborating evidence that the system is not up to the standards that we expect as New Zealanders.
These standards are laid out in the ‘purpose’ section of the Corrections Act 2004. Prisons must be safe, secure, humane and effective. They must be operated at least on the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. They must assist in rehabilitating offenders and reintegrating them into the community by providing programmes and other interventions.