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The number of prisoners testing positive in random drug tests is at an all-time low, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said.

For the financial year to date, only 6 percent of prisoners have returned positive results. This compares to over 34 percent of prisoners returning positive results when random drug testing was introduced in1998.

A Bill which makes offending against Police and Corrections Officers an aggravating factor at sentencing passed its first reading in Parliament today.

The Minister of Police and Corrections, Judith Collins, told Parliament that the current law did not require a judge to take a law enforcement officer’s status into account as an aggravating factor at sentencing. Instead, it is left to the discretion of the sentencing judge.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins today opened the new Mt Eden Corrections Facility – the country’s most modern prison and the first since 2005 to be managed by a private sector contractor.

The new 554-bed Mt Eden prison building, gatehouse and support buildings will replace the existing Mt Eden Prison which was opened in 1888. The facility will incorporate Auckland Central Remand Prison (ACRP) and be known as Mt Eden Corrections Facility (MECF). It will provide accommodation for up to 966, mainly remand, prisoners.

The new Community Probation Service (CPS) centre at Flaxmere will allow greater oversight of offenders on parole or community sentences, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said.

Ms Collins opened the centre today, and said it would be an important step forward in the management of community offenders in Flaxmere.

Inmates at the three Canterbury prisons have been put to work helping the people of Christchurch following the 22 February earthquake, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said.

Since the earthquake prisoners from Christchurch Men’s Prison, Christchurch Women’s Prison and Rolleston Prison have assembled thousands of emergency packs of food and other necessities for Christchurch residents.

Low-risk offenders on community work have also been clearing streets and helping schools get up and running.

Ladies and gentlemen

Thank you for that warm welcome.

It is a pleasure to be with you here today.

All our thoughts are with the people of Japan this afternoon as they confront an unimaginable crisis.

As a nation that is, itself, coming to terms with a major catastrophe, we share their grief and their sorrow at this time of great loss and uncertainty.

When the earthquake struck Christchurch on 22 February, Japan was quick to offer help.

Their people were on the ground just days after the quake struck.

Good morning.

It is wonderful to see you all here so bright and early today.

And it’s great to see so many familiar faces.

It is a pleasure to be talking to a group of people who will be very much in the driver’s seat of New Zealand’s economic recovery in the months and years ahead.

As New Zealand and the world emerges from the recession there will be plenty of opportunities for New Zealand businesses.

The ceremonial start to construction of a new rehabilitation unit at Hawkes Bay Prison marks a philosphical shift in corrections policy and practice, according to Associate Corrections Minister Dr Pita Sharples.

Unlike most prisons, which are built to keep people apart, Dr Sharples said the new Whare Oranga Ake is based on Maori philosophies, and marks a new beginning.

“In Maori tradition, building a house is about building family and community.” he said.

Mihi:
- Mana whenua: Ngati Poporo o Ngati Kahungunu
- Local government officials
- Ray Smith, new CEO of Corrections, and senior managers
- Service providers who support the kaupapa (to be announced)

This is a very significant day for all of us here.
Turning a sod marks a new beginning and this moment has particular significance.

In Maori tradition, building a house is all about building family and community.

Global services management company Serco has been selected to manage the Mt Eden/Auckland Central Remand Prison from next year, Corrections Minister Judith Collins announced today.

Serco, a British company with operations in Europe, the Middle-East, Asia-Pacific and North America, was one of three companies that sought the contract through a Request for Proposal process.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins today opened the second of three new Drug Treatment Units which will double the number of prisoners able to undertake drug rehabilitation.

The Government is taking the next step towards implementing a public private partnership (PPP) for delivering a new prison at Wiri, South Auckland, Infrastructure Minister Bill English and Correcti

Community Probation Services has lifted compliance with parole mandatory standards to 96 percent, up from 56 percent in September 2008, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said today.

Custodial staff at New Zealand's prisons will shortly be wearing a blue uniform rather than the traditional olive green, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said today.

Justice Minister Simon Power today introduced legislation to make offending against Police and Corrections officers a mandatory aggravating factor at sentencing.

More prisoners are undertaking job training and literacy and numeracy education than ever before, Corrections Minister Judith Collins and Associate Minister of Corrections Dr Pita Sharples said tod

Offenders on community work are providing valuable assistance with the Canterbury earthquake clean-up, Corrections Minister Judith Collins says.

Police and Corrections staff have done themselves proud with their work following the Christchurch earthquake, some putting personal problems aside in the line of duty, Police and Corrections Minis

The number of escapes from New Zealand prisons has reached a record low, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said today.

Good afternoon.

Thank you for inviting me to speak at the end of what I understand has been a very interesting and constructive conference for you all.

The Ministers of Health and Corrections, Tony Ryall and Judith Collins have thanked the National Health Committee for their report Health in justice: Improving the health of prisoners, their fam

A proposed 960-bed public-private partnership prison at Wiri in South Auckland will create about $1.2 billion in economic benefits to the Auckland region over 30 years, Corrections Minister Judith

Thank you for inviting me to join you today. It is a real pleasure to be here.

The Government is to legislate to make offending against Police and Corrections officers an aggravating factor at sentencing.