Good may come of prisons revamp

It was well signalled, and now it's been confirmed - two of this country's prisons are set to close, along with some units at other prisons.

The Department of Corrections released information on the changes yesterday, the details of which reveal that prisons in Wellington and New Plymouth will be shut down, as well as some units at Arohata, Rolleston, Tongariro/Rangipo and Waikeria prisons.

In addition, Auckland Prison's East Division and Invercargill Prison's West Wing will be refurbished.

There will always be controversy around any decisions like this - emotions naturally run high whenever potential job losses are involved, not to mention concerns around prisoner welfare and the ability of loved ones to visit inmates.

The PSA, the country's public sector union, has been openly critical of the move, describing the closures, coupled with plans for a new private prison to be built in Auckland, as evidence of a step towards privatisation of the country's prison system.

Unsurprisingly, Labour has also slammed the move, describing adding "unnecessary capacity" to the prison system as the wrong thing to do.

While the PSA has also stressed the value of regional prisons in keeping offenders near their families, making it easier to rehabilitate and reintegrate them, they at least also recognise the need for change.

New Plymouth Prison is the country's oldest currently operational prison, and was originally an army hospital in the 1860s during the Taranaki land wars. Wellington Prison was established in 1927 and is one of the country's oldest prisons.

Discussions around this country's crime rate, and particularly the rate of reoffending, are increasingly turning to the importance of rehabilitation.

While the PSA is correct to acknowledge the importance of having family members nearby to assist prisoners in their rehabilitation, the facilities marked for closure are clearly out of date, and presumably unable to provide the required rehabilitation facilities.

There will be no shortage of sympathy for those prison workers affected, and the families of prisoners who are forced to move, although it's unlikely the same sentiment will apply to the prisoners themselves.

However, it may be that, in the long run, ensuring the country's prison muster has better access to the rehabilitation facilities they need may go a long way to ensuring a long-term drop in our crime rate.

Feedback: editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz