Newspapers provide a window to the world for prisoners

More prisoners are 'reading all about it' under a scheme to boost literacy and increase chances of participating with communities on release. Photo/Supplied

An initiative to provide prisoners access to newspapers has spread to eight jails.

In June this year, the Sir Peter Williams QC Penal Reform League began its newspaper initiative at Ngawha Prison.

Since then a further seven New Zealand prisons have been added to the league's prison list for receiving the NZ Herald.

The prisons included the high security Paremoremo Prison, the Mt Eden Remand Prison, Auckland Women's Prison, South Auckland Men's Prison, Tongariro Prison, Springhill Prison and Waikeria Prison.

Some prisoners have written to the league to express gratitude for the daily read.

One wrote the newspaper "helps me from being bored to tears in this place".

"I really hope this will be an ongoing process as so many prisoners seem a lot more content with the daily Herald," wrote one.

"It's good to read current news again, not to mention the puzzles," said another.

League spokeswoman Lady Heeni Phillips-Williams said: "Newspapers can be lifesavers.

"Essentially each new edition marks a new day and while the world moves ahead, there is that invitation for prisoners inside to rejoin our world."

Phillips-Williams said the newspapers provided benefits to the public outside also by improving prisoners' chances of making good lives on release.

"Newspapers also boost literacy, is part of prisoner rehabilitation and newspapers educate prisoners.

"You couldn't get it better than that."

Phillips-Williams said it was a shock to some members of the public that prisoners had been deprived of daily newspapers.

"The Sir Peter Williams QC Penal Reform League is again most grateful to its sponsor Eco Store and the various prison staff ensuring prisoners receive the daily dose of newspapers."

It aims to have all remaining southern New Zealand prisons organised with newspapers after the New Year.