Our Corrections Services began in September 2013 with the Out of Gate pilot project. This was so successful that it now makes up part of our core business and our contracts are ongoing. Its success has led to several innovative projects and we now have two reintegration services. This has led to several innovative projects in West Auckland, Whakatane, Rotorua, Taupo and Tokoroa regions.

Out of Gate

The Out of Gate service was an exciting new initiative aimed at supporting offenders to successfully reintegrate back into the community, and to assist them in leading crime free lives. The service has also helped shape the Department of Corrections thinking around reintegration programmes.

This service works directly with, but is not limited to, Waikeria, Tongariro/Rangipo and Spring Hill prisons.

The service continues to focus on some of the key barriers and support needs that offenders have in reintegrating back into the community. These include:

• Employment and Training – assisting people to register and enrol in training programmes, further education, job clubs, prepare CV’s and identify employment options.
• Accommodation – aim to find secure and appropriate long term accommodation.
• Oranga/Health and Welfare- registering with a GP, referrals to specialist support; such as Alcohol and Drug services.
• Skills for Life - addressing basic everyday needs such as having identification, opening a bank account, registering at WINZ, budgeting etc.
• Family/whānau and community support - helping to build and sustain natural supports such as family/whānau and linking into useful community organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, local marae and positive activities e.g gyms and sporting clubs.

Reintegration facilitators meet with offenders in prison to identify their needs and to develop a roadmap that indentifies the steps needed to take upon their release. Support staff then meet with the offender on release to provide support and follow through on the roadmap and ensure that their basic needs are met during their reintegration back into the community.

Out of Gate is one of a number of initiatives aimed at reducing reoffending by 25%. More details of the initiatives can be found on the Department of Corrections website.

http://www.corrections.govt.nz/

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