pn557.. Labour's Full Manifesto -- and the need for "deeper" prison reform

UPDATE. READ THE TURIKI REPORT ON WHICH NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.  Has Labour been afraid to act in case it gives National an opportunity to turn the election into a "crime and punishment"  election? 

 

I have just read the full NZ Labour Party manifesto. It covers almost everything I can think of and provides links to more detail on some issues.   It's essential reading for those of us who want to see where Labour is coming from and where it promises to go if it's  returned to government on Saturday.

National says Labour is a party of unfulfilled promises, repeating ad nauseum:  the plight of Kiwibuild and the Auckland rail link to its airport. Read the manifesto now and file the link to look at later to see whether Labour really does fulfil on its promises.

 The one issue I singled out for closer scrutiny was criminal offending and prison reform.  Few would question the actions proposed but there was, I think, one glaring omission: preparing prisoners for a life after prison; helping them— while they are still in prison—  to reintegrate with the wider community on their release and lead a useful life without reoffending. 

Giving offenders serving under a 3 year sentence the right to vote, reintroduced in the last parliament,  is a good new example of what is needed.  There has also been mention of helping prisoners get a driver's licence and  improving literacy and numeracy, and perhaps some oblique reference to trade training. These are the sorts of initiative that should be spelt out, and taken further, in the manifesto. And what about leisure skills, drawing, painting, carving, debating, playing board and computer games and  musical instruments?  Much mention was made of Maori in prison but I didn't see any mention of learning te Reo, haka, poi, weaving or the many elements that make up Maoritanga. And there was nothing on Maori-Pakeha history, the legal system or race relations, which may help Maori prisoners understand why so manny of them are in prison.

On a prison visit some years ago I saw prisoners introduced to hydroponics, a useful but limited craft, that I understand did not last much longer. 

What about more generally useful skills such as computer and IT, carpentry, plumbing, plastering, painting, motor repairs, upholstery work, baking, hairdressing, dress making (and more recently masks) ù\— and "life" skills such as budgeting? 

Why can't these skills be taught in real time, with work sold to and in the prison, and to the wider community, perhaps even on TradeMe. The money received could be put into individual prisoner's accounts or in a pool to give them a "nest egg" when they are released.

I understand there is a need to protect tradespeople in the wider community from what could be seen as unfair competition from prisoners.  This would need to be looked at on a case to case basis. The issue is not insurmountable, and there could be much to gain if in-prison education and training really took off.

The manifesto looks at the many commendable thing that can be done outside prisons by people who are not prisoners. 

My proposals look at what can be done inside prisons by prisoners, allowing them to take some greater control of their lives in and after prison.  This approach is likely to do much to cut the reoffending rate of 61%.

 -- ACW

P.S.  See also previous article on Samoa. Some similar ideas. 

P.P.S. Manawatu prison is just down the road from the army base. The prisoners could bake for the soldiers, as happened in Singapore some years ago.