Corrections Act 2004

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Version as at 28 October 2021

Corrections Act 2004

Public Act		2004 No 50
Date of assent		3 June 2004
Commencement		see section 2

Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Department of Corrections.

1	Title
	Part 1 Preliminary provisions
2	Commencement
3	Interpretation
4	Act binds the Crown
5	Purpose of corrections system
6	Principles guiding corrections system
	Part 2 Corrections system
	Subpart 1—Statutory roles and responsibilities
	Minister, chief executive, and Commissioner of Police
7	Powers and functions of Minister
8	Powers and functions of chief executive
9	Powers and functions of Commissioner of Police
10	Delegation of powers and functions of chief executive
	Other persons with other powers and functions in relation to prisoners
11	Prison manager and other staff of prisons
12	Powers and functions of prison managers
13	Delegation of powers and functions of prison managers
14	Powers and functions of officers
15	Hearing adjudicators
16	Powers and functions of hearing adjudicators
17	Appointment or engagement of security officers
18	Powers and functions of security officers
19	Visiting Justices
19A	Health centre managers
19B	Delegation of powers and functions of health centre managers
20	Medical officers
21	Protection of officers in discharge of functions
22	Protection of members of Armed Forces
23	Restrictions on exercise of certain powers
	Persons with powers and functions in relation to administration of community-based sentences, sentences of home detention, conditions of release, or parole
24	Probation officers
25	Functions of probation officers
26	Probation officers may delegate power to supervise offenders on community work
27	Controlling officer of probation area
	General
28	Inspectors of corrections
29	Powers and functions of inspectors of corrections
	Subpart 2—Establishment and operation of community work centres
30	Establishment of community work centres
31	Chief executive may make rules for community work centres and offenders carrying out community work
	Subpart 3—Establishment and operation of prisons
32	Establishment of prisons
33	Manager may make rules for prison
	Detention and custody of prisoners
34	Detention of prisoners
34A	Detention of child or young person serving sentence of imprisonment
35	Detention during transit
36	Police station deemed Police jail for certain purposes
37	Effect of warrant, etc, for specified prisons
38	Legal custody of prisoners
39	Duty of prisoner to return if control or supervision ceases
40	Prisoners must obey lawful orders
41	Collection of biometric information, etc, from prisoner
42	Certain information to be given to recently received prisoners
	Prisoners’ property
43	Authorised property
44	Standard conditions of issue and transfer of issued items
45	Disposal and destruction of prisoner property
45A	Rules about authorised property
	Trust account and purchasing system
46	Trust account and purchasing system for prisoners
	Security classifications
47	Security classifications
48	Further provisions relating to security classifications
	Assessment, use of time, management plans, and programmes
49	Prisoners must be assessed on reception and have needs addressed
50	Prisoners’ use of time
51	Management plans
52	Rehabilitative programmes
	Transfer of prisoners
53	Transfer from one prison to another
54	Reasons for transfer
55	Information to be given to prisoners
56	Information about reasons for transfer
	Denial or restriction of ability to associate
57	Denial or restriction of prisoner’s opportunity to associate with other prisoners
58	Segregation for purpose of security, good order, or safety
59	Segregation for purpose of protective custody
60	Segregation for purpose of medical oversight
61	Accommodation to be provided if segregation direction in force
	Prisoners at risk of self-harm
61A	Ongoing assessment for risk of self-harm
61B	Initial steps that prison manager and health centre manager must take in respect of at-risk prisoner
61C	Confirmation of at-risk prisoner assessment
61D	At-risk management plan established
61E	Content of at-risk management plan
61F	Revocation of confirmed at-risk assessment
61G	Health centre manager must consult registered health professional if advice outside scope of practice
61H	Designation of at-risk cell
	Temporary release from custody and temporary removal of prisoners
62	Temporary release from custody or temporary removal from prison
63	Temporary release from custody
64	Temporary removal from prison
64A	Electronic monitoring for persons temporarily released from custody or temporarily removed from prison
65	Removal of prisoner for judicial purposes
	Electronic monitoring of prisoners employed in work or accommodated outside secure perimeter
65A	Electronic monitoring of prisoners employed in work or accommodated outside secure perimeter
	Work and earnings
66	Work and earnings
66A	Self-employment
67	Earnings of employed prisoner
68	Application of money
	Minimum entitlements
69	Minimum entitlements
	Exercise
70	Exercise
	Bedding
71	Bedding
	Diet
72	Diet
	Visiting
73	Entitlement to private visitors
74	Legal adviser may visit prisoner
	Medical treatment and health care
75	Medical treatment and standard of health care
	Mail to and from prisoners
76	Prisoners may send and receive mail
	Telephone calls
77	Outgoing telephone calls
78	Information and education needs of prisoners
	Other duties in relation to prisoners
79	Religious and spiritual needs
80	Needs relating to particular cultures
81	Working conditions
81A	Request and approval for placement of child with mother
81AB	Reconsideration of decision relating to child’s placement
81B	Parenting agreements
81C	Accommodation and feeding of children placed with their mothers
	Living conditions
82	Accommodation generally
82A	Types of permitted accommodation
82B	No legitimate expectation as to conditions, etc
	Subpart 4—Coercive powers
	Use of force and restraints, and related matters
83	Use of force
84	Provoking prisoners
85	Use of non-lethal weapons
86	Possession, carriage, and use of firearms restricted
87	Restraint of prisoners
88	Reporting on use of force, weapons, and mechanical restraints
	Searching of prisoners and other persons
89	Definition of rub-down search
90	Definition of strip search
91	Definition of scanner search for purposes of Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014
92	Definition of x-ray search for purposes of Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014
92A	Meaning of scanner search for purposes of this Act
92B	Meaning of imaging technology search
92C	Particular matters relating to imaging technology searches
92D	Particular restrictions when imaging technology search used as alternative to strip search
93	Restrictions on internal examinations
94	Restrictions on searches
95	Authority to detain for purposes of search
96	Authority to search property
97	Use of dogs for searching
98	Search of prisoners and cells
99	Search of persons other than prisoners
100	Search of staff lockers and other places
101	Search of vehicles
102	Reporting of unauthorised items discovered, certain searches, and placement in dry cells
103	Detention pending investigation by Police
	Opening and reading of mail and withholding of correspondence
103A	Interpretation
104	General considerations relating to mail
105	Restriction on sending mail to other prisoners
106	Opening of mail
107	Reading of correspondence
108	Withholding mail
109	Mail between prisoners, official agencies, and members of Parliament
110	Mail between prisoners and legal advisers
110A	Restrictions on disclosure of mail
110B	Warnings in relation to mail
110C	Application of Privacy Act 2020
	Telephone calls may be monitored
111	Interpretation
112	Purposes of monitoring prisoners’ calls
113	Prisoner calls that may be monitored
114	Certain calls must not be monitored
115	Only certain persons may monitor
116	Warnings
117	Authorised disclosure of information
118	Restrictions on disclosure of information
119	Application of Privacy Act 2020
120	Destruction of recordings
121	Notice to be given of intention to produce evidence of recording
122	Privileged evidence
	Alcohol and drugs
123	Chief executive must issue drug and alcohol strategy
124	Prisoner may be required to submit to drug or alcohol test
125	Obligations of persons carrying out procedure
126	Prisoner must be informed of result of procedure
127	Restrictions on use of result of procedure
	Subpart 5—Offences
	Offences against discipline
128	Offences by prisoner
129	Offences by prisoners relating to drugs, alcohol, smoking, and vaping
130	Offences committed by persons while on temporary release from custody under section 62
131	Attempting or aiding commission of offence against discipline
132	Minor or unintentional breaches of discipline
133	Powers of hearing adjudicator in relation to offences against discipline
134	Decision as to who is to hear charge
135	Applications for legal representation
136	Right to appeal to Visiting Justice against decision of hearing adjudicator
137	Powers of Visiting Justice in relation to offences by prisoners
138	Reference of case from Visiting Justice to hearing adjudicator
139	Mode of hearing or reaching decisions
139A	Mode of hearing or reaching decisions
140	Commencement of penalties
	Other offences
141	Unauthorised deliveries, communications, recordings, and possession of unauthorised items
141A	Unauthorised use or possession of electronic communication device by prisoner
142	Trespassing in, or loitering about, prison
143	Restricted communications with, or deliveries to, prisoner outside prison
144	Pretending to be security officer or employee of department
145	Failure to comply with direction or requirement under section 101(2)
146	Offences in relation to mail, information, and images
147	Injuring, interfering with, or obstructing dog used for searching
148	Offences in relation to requisitioning
149	Power of arrest
150	Power of seizure
	Subpart 6—Complaints, investigations, and inspections
151	Interpretation
152	Objectives and monitoring of corrections complaints system
153	Prisons, community work centres, and probation offices must have internal complaints system
154	Assistance to make complaints
155	Persons under or previously under control or supervision may seek assistance from inspector of corrections
156	Investigation of complaints by inspector of corrections
157	Powers of entry and access by inspectors of corrections
158	Interviews with inspectors of corrections
159	Recommendations and directions of inspectors of corrections
	Protocol
160	Protocol between chief executive and Chief Ombudsman
	Subpart 7—Miscellaneous
	Other rights of inspection
161	Right of member of Parliament to visit prisons
162	Right of Justice of the Peace to visit prison
162A	Crimes of Torture Act 1989 not limited
	Identification of certain persons
163	Certain persons to be readily identifiable
	Provision of information to persons under control or supervision
164	Provision of information to persons under control or supervision
	Health records
165	Health records
	Escort services and courtroom custodial services
166	Provision of escort services or courtroom custodial services under contract
167	Requirements of security contracts
168	Liability of security contractors
169	Subcontractors
170	Security contracts to be notified in Gazette
171	Reporting responsibilities
172	Security monitors
173	Access must be given
174	Security monitors must report on certain matters
	Application of other Acts
175	Application of Ombudsmen Act 1975 and Official Information Act 1982 to contract prisons, security contractors, and security officers
176	Application of New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 to contract prisons, security contractors, and security officers
177	Application of Public Works Act 1981
178	Application of Resource Management Act 1991
179	Application of certain Acts to various office holders
	Status of certain rules and regulations relating to smoking in prisons
179AA	Status of certain rules and regulations relating to smoking in prisons
	Emergency management
179A	Detention of prisoners eligible for release during outbreak or spread of infectious disease
179B	No compensation for detention in prison under Health Act 1956
179C	Interpretation
179D	Notification of emergency
179E	Exclusion of liability while epidemic notice in force or during emergency
	Disclosure of prisoner information
180	Purpose of section 180A
180A	Prisoner information may be disclosed for social assistance purposes
180B	Information that may be requested and disclosed
180C	Social assistance may be suspended immediately if discrepancy discovered
180D	Notice required by section 180C(1)(d)
	Disclosure of offender information
181	Offender information may be disclosed for immigration purposes
	Information sharing about highest-risk offenders
181A	Disclosure of information relating to highest-risk offenders
182	Offender information may be disclosed to facilitate monitoring of persons on temporary release
	Information sharing about child sex offenders
182A	Information sharing about child sex offenders
182B	Definition of child sex offender
182C	Definition of specified agency
182D	Information sharing agreements
182E	Application of agreements
	Inquests
183	Inquests on prisoners
	Power to arrest persons unlawfully at large
184	Arrest of person unlawfully at large
	Property damage caused by escapers
185	Compensation for property damage by escapers
186	Rules governing compensation
187	Notification and payment of compensation
188	Hearing of claims
189	Procedure, evidence, and appeals
	Detection, interception, etc, of radiocommunications within prison boundaries
189A	Interpretation
189B	Detection, interception, etc, of radiocommunications within prison boundaries
189C	Recordings of unauthorised communications
	Information associated with seized electronic communication devices
189D	Chief executive may require electronic communications company to provide information to access contents of seized device
	Annual report of department
190	Matters to be included in annual report
190A	Minister may approve subsidies for voluntary groups
	Requisitioning of land and buildings for use as temporary corrections prisons
191	Requisitioning powers
192	Direction not to be inconsistent with applicable civil defence emergency management plan
193	Compensation if property requisitioned
194	Duties of chief executive
195	Protection from liability
	Chief executive and Commissioner of Police may issue guidelines and instructions
196	Chief executive and Commissioner of Police may issue guidelines and instructions
	Royal prerogative not affected
197	Royal prerogative not affected
	Management of prisons
198	Management of prisons under contract
199	Requirements of prison management contracts
199AA	Delegation of powers and functions of chief executive to contractor
199AB	Delegation of powers and functions of chief executive to subcontractor
199A	Delegation of powers and functions of contractor
199B	Liability of contractor
199C	Subcontractors
199D	Reporting responsibilities
199E	Monitors
199F	Accommodation and access
199G	Monitors to report on certain matters
199H	Control of contract prison in emergency
199I	Prison management contracts to be presented to House of Representatives
199J	Release of prisoner information to and by contract prisons
199K	Transferring staff who are contributors to Government Superannuation Fund
	Regulations
200	Regulations
201	Regulations relating to good management of corrections system
202	Regulations relating to safe custody of prisoners
203	Regulations relating to treatment of prisoners
	Amendment to Immigration Act 1987
204	New section 141AC inserted
	Amendment to Privacy Act 1993
205	Amendments to Privacy Act 1993
	Other amendments and repeals
206	Acts amended
207	Regulations amended
208	Repeals and revocations
	Part 3 Transitional provisions
	Management of prisons under contract [Repealed]
209	Existing management contracts must not be extended [Repealed]
210	Delegation of powers and functions of contractor [Repealed]
211	References in existing management contracts altered [Repealed]
212	Liability of contractor [Repealed]
213	Subcontractors [Repealed]
214	Reporting responsibilities [Repealed]
215	Monitors [Repealed]
216	Accommodation and access [Repealed]
217	Monitors to report on certain matters [Repealed]
218	Control of contract prison in emergency [Repealed]
219	Variation to management contracts to be presented to House of Representatives [Repealed]
220	Release of prisoner information to contract prisons [Repealed]
	Provision of escort services or courtroom custodial services under contract
221	References in existing contracts for provision of escort services, courtroom custodial services, or both
	Compensation for property damage by escapers
222	Proceedings brought under sections 41A and 41B of Penal Institutions Act 1954
	Rules preserved
223	Existing rules preserved
	Directions restricting right to associate continue in effect
224	Directions restricting right to associate to continue
	Security classifications of prisoners continue in effect
225	Existing security classifications to continue
	Appointments
226	Superintendents deemed to be prison managers
227	Inspectors deemed to be inspectors of corrections
228	Most other appointments preserved
229	Certain Visiting Justices cease to hold office
	Release or removal under Penal Institutions Act 1954
230	Persons released under section 21 of Penal Institutions Act 1954
231	Directions given under section 21A of Penal Institutions Act 1954
232	Removal under section 27 or section 28 of Penal Institutions Act 1954
	Disciplinary offences
233	Sections 32 to 36 of Penal Institutions Act 1954 continue to apply to acts and omissions before commencement
	Drug and alcohol strategy
234	Drug and alcohol strategy issued under section 36B of Penal Institutions Act 1954
	Designations
235	Penal institutions deemed to be prisons and other designation changes
	Schedule 1 Substantive amendments to Schedule 5 of Privacy Act 1993
	Schedule 2 Amendments to other Acts
	Schedule 3 Regulations amended
	Schedule 4 Enactments repealed or revoked
	Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Act 2009
	Notes

1 Title

This Act is the Corrections Act 2004.

Part 1 Preliminary provisions

2 Commencement

(1)

This Act (except sections 182A to 182E and sections 200 to 203) comes into force on a date to be appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council.

(1A)

Sections 182A to 182E come into force on the date on which the Parole (Extended Supervision) Amendment Act 2004 comes into force.

(2)

Sections 200 to 203 come into force on the day after the date on which this Act receives the Royal assent.

(3)

An order under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section
Publication	PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette	LA19 s 69(1)(c)
Presentation	The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives	LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a)
Disallowance	It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives	LA19 ss 115, 116
This note is not part of the Act.

Section 2(1): this Act (except sections 182A–182E and 200–203) brought into force, on 1 June 2005, by clause 2 of the Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

Section 2(1A): sections 182A–182E brought into force, on 7 July 2004, pursuant to section 2 of the Parole (Extended Supervision) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 67).

Section 2(1): amended, on 7 July 2004, by section 14(1) of the Parole (Extended Supervision) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 67).

Section 2(1A): inserted, on 7 July 2004, by section 14(2) of the Parole (Extended Supervision) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 67).

Section 2(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

3 Interpretation

(1)

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

at-risk assessment means, in relation to a prisoner, an assessment of the prisoner’s risk of self-harm made under section 49(2) or 61A

at-risk cell means a cell that has been designated as an at-risk cell under section 61H

at-risk management plan, in relation to a prisoner, means the plan established for that prisoner under section 61D

at-risk prisoner means a prisoner who has received an at-risk assessment indicating that the prisoner is at risk of self-harm and the at-risk assessment has not been reversed or revoked

attendance for judicial purposes, in relation to any person, includes the attendance of that person, whether as a party or as a witness, before any of the following tribunals:

(a)

any court of justice:

(b)

the House of Representatives or any Committee of that House:

(c)

any arbitrator or umpire, or any person or body of persons authorised by law to make an inquiry and take evidence on oath:

(d)

any legal tribunal by which any legal right or liability can be established:

(e)

any person acting as a court or tribunal having the power to hold a judicial proceeding:

(f)

any family group conference within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989:

(g)

[Repealed]

(h)

any other person or body of persons the proceedings, or any part of the proceedings, of whom or of which are deemed to be a judicial proceeding for the purposes of section 108 of the Crimes Act 1961 (which relates to perjury)

authorised property means property that is declared by rules made under section 45A as property that prisoners may be issued with or allowed to keep

biometric information has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Customs and Excise Act 1996

chief executive means the chief executive of the department that is, with the authority of the Prime Minister, for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act

complainant means a person who makes a complaint under subpart 6 of Part 2

complaint—

(a)

includes a complaint about—

(i)

the treatment of a person who is or was under control or supervision; or

(ii)

the conditions in the prison, community work centre, probation office, or any other place (including a dwellinghouse) at which a person referred to in subparagraph (i) is or was detained, or is or was required to attend, work, or live; or

(iii)

a decision in respect of a request by a person referred to in subparagraph (i) for information; or

(iv)

a decision relating to a person referred to in subparagraph (i) for which no other right of appeal or review exists under any enactment; but

(b)

does not include any action taken by a prisoner to review or appeal a decision by a hearing adjudicator or Visiting Justice under subpart 5 of Part 2 or any other complaint by a prisoner about a decision of that kind

contract prison means a prison that is for the time being managed under a prison management contract

contractor means a person who is a party to a prison management contract under which that person is to manage a prison

corrections prison—

(a)

includes a prison operated by the department (including a temporary prison) and a contract prison; but

(b)

does not include a Police jail

correspondence—

(a)

means a handwritten, typed, or printed message that is mail or is contained in any mail; and

(b)

includes a handwritten, typed, or printed manuscript contained in any mail; but

(c)

does not include an electronic message or a fax

courtroom custodial duty means the custody, control, and supervision of a person while he or she is at any place at which the attendance of that person is required for judicial purposes

courtroom custodial services means the provision of persons to undertake courtroom custodial duties

department means the department that is, with the authority of the Prime Minister, for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act

Director-General of an intelligence and security agency has the same meaning as in section 4 of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017

disciplinary offence means an offence against discipline under subpart 5 of Part 2

disciplinary proceedings means a hearing conducted by a hearing adjudicator or a Visiting Justice under subpart 5 of Part 2

drug means—

(a)

a controlled drug within the meaning of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975:

(b)

a prescription medicine or restricted medicine within the meaning of the Medicines Act 1981:

(c)

a psychoactive substance within the meaning of section 9 of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013

electronic communication device—

(a)

means an electronic communication device (other than a device used to assist with a disability) that is capable of any or all of the following actions:

(i)

transmitting sound:

(ii)

computing information:

(iii)

functioning as a telephone:

(iv)

communicating in any other way using any technology (including telecommunication, radiocommunication, Internet, and broadcasting technology):

(b)

includes any part of an electronic communication device (for example, a SIM card) regardless of whether the part—

(i)

is capable of any of the actions specified in paragraph (a); and

(ii)

is detachable and may be used in other electronic communication devices:

(c)

includes any device that enables or facilitates the functioning of an electronic communication device (for example, a recharger or charging device):

(d)

does not include—

(i)

any telephone facility provided for the use of prisoners under section 77; and

(ii)

any telephone facility or telephone system (whether inside or outside a prison) that a prisoner is permitted to use by a person under whose control or supervision the prisoner is

electronic message means any communication transmitted by electronic means that is capable of being displayed on a visual display unit

employee includes a person engaged under a contract for services

enforcement officer—

(a)

means a person who is a constable, or who—

(i)

is an officer or employee of the public service (as defined in section 10 of the Public Service Act 2020) or a local authority; and

(ii)

is acting in the course of his or her official duties (being duties consisting of or including the detection, investigation, or prosecution of offences); but

(b)

does not include an officer (as defined in this subsection)

escort duty—

(a)

means the transport of persons in custody—

(i)

to or from a prison or Police station; or

(ii)

to or from any place at which their attendance is or has been required for judicial purposes; or

(iii)

to or from a residence (within the meaning of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989); or

(iv)

in connection with any temporary removal from custody under section 62; or

(v)

for the purposes of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992; and

(b)

includes their custody, control, and supervision during that transport, and any custody, control, and supervision while they are at any place to or from which they are transported (other than a prison or Police station) that is incidental to that transport

escort services means the provision of persons to undertake escort duties

family, in relation to any person, includes—

(a)

any person to whom the person is related; and

(b)

the person’s spouse, civil union partner, or de facto partner; and

(c)

the person’s family group

family group, in relation to any person, means a family group or extended family—

(a)

in which there is at least 1 adult member—

(i)

with whom the person has a biological or legal relationship; or

(ii)

to whom the person has a significant psychological attachment; or

(b)

that is the person’s whanau or other culturally recognised family group

firearm has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Arms Act 1983

Health and Disability Commissioner includes any employee of the Commissioner

health centre manager means a person appointed as a health centre manager under section 19A and who is a medical practitioner or a nurse

hearing adjudicator means a person designated as a hearing adjudicator under section 15

imaging technology search has the meaning given to that term in section 92B

Independent Police Conduct Authority includes any employee of the Authority

inspector of corrections or inspector means a person appointed as an inspector of corrections under section 28

intelligence and security agency has the same meaning as in section 4 of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017

investigating officer means an officer (within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Defence Act 1990) or other duly authorised person investigating a complaint under section 49 of that Act

legal adviser—

(a)

means a lawyer (within the meaning of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006) who represents a prisoner; and

(b)

includes, in relation to any member of the Armed Forces detained in a prison, any other member of the Armed Forces responsible for representing that member in the Court Martial or other proceedings

mail means any letter, package, parcel, or postcard sent or delivered to or by a prisoner

medical practitioner means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, as a practitioner of the profession of medicine

medicine has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Medicines Act 1981

member of the Human Rights Commission includes any employee of the Human Rights Commission

Minister means the Minister of the Crown for the time being responsible for the department

monitor means any person appointed under section 199E(1) or (2)

nurse means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of nursing whose scope of practice permits the performance of general nursing functions

offender—

(a)

means a person who is under control or supervision; and

(b)

includes a person who is dealt with or is liable to be dealt with for non-payment of a sum of money, disobedience of a court order, or contempt of court; but

(c)

does not include—

(i)

a person who is under control or supervision by reason only that the person is in custody awaiting trial; or

(ii)

a person who is detained solely as a consequence of a warrant or other order issued under the Immigration Act 2009

officer—

(a)

means—

(i)

the manager of a prison:

(ii)

any person appointed or engaged under section 11 to provide custodial services in respect of a prison:

(iii)

any person appointed under section 17(1):

(iv)

any person appointed or engaged under section 17(2) to carry out the obligations of a security contractor under a contract to undertake escort duties or courtroom custodial duties, or both, but only while that person is carrying out functions set out in section 18(1) or the powers and functions referred to in section 18(2):

(v)

any employee of the department who the chief executive designates to carry out the powers and functions of an officer in respect of 1 or more prisons:

(vi)

in respect of any provision, any employee of the department whom the chief executive designates to carry out the powers and functions of an officer under that provision in respect of 1 or more prisons; but

(b)

does not include any employee or independent contractor appointed or engaged to provide non-custodial services in respect of any prison or any prisoner

official agency means—

(a)

an inspector of corrections; or

(b)

a monitor; or

(c)

a security monitor; or

(d)

a Visiting Justice; or

(da)

the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security; or

(e)

an Ombudsman; or

(f)

the Commissioner for Children; or

(g)

the Health and Disability Commissioner; or

(h)

the Human Rights Commission; or

(i)

the Independent Police Conduct Authority; or

(j)

the Privacy Commissioner; or

(k)

a national preventive mechanism (as defined in section 16 of the Crimes of Torture Act 1989)

Ombudsman includes any employee of the Office of the Ombudsmen

person under control or supervision means—

(a)

a prisoner:

(b)

a person who is subject to a community-based sentence:

(c)

a person who is subject to a sentence of home detention:

(d)

[Repealed]

(e)

a person who is subject to conditions under the Parole Act 2002 or under section 80N or 93 of the Sentencing Act 2002

Police jail means a prison established or deemed to be established as a Police jail under section 32(1)(b)

prescribed means prescribed by this Act or by any regulations made under this Act

prison—

(a)

means a prison established or deemed to be established under section 32; and

(b)

to avoid doubt, includes any land or building declared to be a prison

prison management contract means a contract for the management of a corrections prison entered into pursuant to section 198(1)

prison manager or manager—

(a)

means a person appointed or engaged as the manager of a prison under section 11; and

(b)

includes, in relation to any site within a prison declared by the chief executive to be a discrete site for the purposes of this Act, the person (if any) appointed or engaged by the chief executive to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the prison manager in relation to that site

prisoner means any person for the time being in the legal custody under this Act of either of the following persons:

(a)

the chief executive:

(b)

the Commissioner of Police

prisoner property means an item that—

(a)

is part of a prisoner’s personal belongings, and is in the prisoner’s possession at the time of admission to a prison; or

(b)

is acquired by a prisoner while in a prison; or

(c)

is received by a staff member of a prison on behalf of a prisoner

Privacy Commissioner includes any employee of, or contractor engaged by, the Privacy Commissioner

private visitor means a visitor who is not a statutory visitor or a specified visitor

promptly means as soon as practicable in all the circumstances

random-testing programme means a programme—

(a)

under which a class or classes of prisoners are identified so that certain prisoners in that class or those classes may be required to submit to a prescribed procedure for the purpose of detecting whether or not the prisoners have used drugs, consumed alcohol, or both; and

(b)

under which the prisoners from a particular class who are to be required to submit to a prescribed procedure are selected by a method that ensures that each prisoner in that class has an equal chance of being selected; and

(c)

that is established and operated in accordance with any applicable regulations made under this Act

reasonably promptly means as soon as is reasonable in all the circumstances

registered health professional means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with an authority established or continued by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of a particular health profession

rehabilitative programme—

(a)

means a programme designed to reduce reoffending by facilitating the rehabilitation of prisoners sentenced to imprisonment and their reintegration into society; and

(b)

includes any medical, psychological, social, therapeutic, cultural, educational, employment-related, rehabilitative, or reintegrative programme

rub-down search has the meaning given to that term in section 89

scanner search has the meaning given to that term in section 92A

scope of practice has the same meaning as in section 5(1) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003

security contract means a contract entered into with the chief executive under section 166

security contractor means a person who is a party to a security contract under which that person is to provide escort services or courtroom custodial services, or both

security monitor means any person appointed under section 172

security officer means any person appointed or engaged under section 17

self-care unit means accommodation of a residential style

self-harm, in relation to a prisoner, means harm inflicted by the prisoner on himself or herself

sentence of imprisonment has the same meaning as in section 4 of the Sentencing Act 2002

service prisoner means a service prisoner as defined in section 2(1) of the Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971

shared cell means a cell shared by a prisoner with 1 or more other prisoners

specified visitor means—

(a)

a person or class of persons approved by the chief executive as an official visitor to 1 or more prisons:

(b)

a person (other than a staff member) approved by the prison manager as an official visitor to that prison for 1 or more prescribed purposes

staff member of a prison or staff member—

(a)

means—

(i)

any officer of a prison; and

(ii)

any employee appointed or engaged to provide non-custodial services in respect of a prison or any prisoner detained in a prison; and

(b)

in relation to any particular prison, means—

(i)

any officer of that prison; and

(ii)

any employee appointed or engaged to provide non-custodial services in respect of that prison or any prisoner detained in that prison

statutory visitor means—

(a)

an inspector of corrections; or

(b)

a Visiting Justice; or

(c)

a monitor; or

(d)

a security monitor; or

(e)

the Minister; or

(f)

the chief executive; or

(g)

an Ombudsman; or

(h)

a member of the Human Rights Commission; or

(i)

a member of Parliament exercising the right conferred by section 161; or

(j)

a Justice of the Peace exercising the right conferred by section 162; or

(k)

a commanding officer of a prisoner who is a service prisoner, or a representative of that commanding officer; or

(l)

a service authority nominated by the commanding officer of a prisoner who is a service prisoner for the purpose of visiting that prisoner; or

(m)

a consular representative; or

(n)

an investigating officer

strip search has the meaning given to that term in section 90

trust account means a trust account operated under section 46

unauthorised item means—

(a)

any article that could, while in the possession of any prisoner, be harmful to that prisoner or to any other person:

(b)

any drug, alcohol, or other intoxicating substance:

(ba)

tobacco:

(bb)

any equipment used for smoking tobacco or any other substance:

(bc)

any vaping product or smokeless tobacco product within the meaning of section 2 of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990:

(c)

any electronic communication device:

(d)

any thing that could be used for the purpose of facilitating the escape from lawful custody of any person:

(e)

in relation to any person, any thing that may not lawfully be retained in the person’s possession:

(f)

any article or thing that is in the possession of any person in contravention or intended contravention of section 128, section 129(a), section 129(aa), section 141, section 143, or section 144:

(fa)

any thing or substance that could be used to tamper with or dilute or contaminate any sample that a prisoner is required to supply in accordance with a prescribed procedure under section 124:

(g)

any offensive weapon within the meaning of section 202A of the Crimes Act 1961:

(h)

any disabling substance within the meaning of that section:

(i)

any article or thing declared to be an unauthorised item by regulations made under this Act

Visiting Justice means—

(a)

a District Court Judge; or

(b)

a person appointed under section 19(2) to be a Visiting Justice

visitor—

(a)

means a person (other than a staff member, a security officer, or another prisoner) who visits a prison; and

(b)

includes a statutory visitor and a specified visitor.

(2)

If any provision of this Act requires that any person employed or engaged for any position be suitable for that position, and that position involves dealing with persons under control or supervision, that person’s suitability must be determined in accordance with whether or not that person is competent to exercise or perform his or her powers, duties, and functions under this Act, or any regulations made under this Act, in a fair and humane manner, because of—

(a)

his or her character and personality; and

(b)

his or her training, skills, qualifications, or work experience; and

(c)

other relevant experience.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 2; SR 2000/81 r 3

Section 3(1): amended, on 15 December 2005, by section 3 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 97).

Section 3(1) at-risk assessment: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) at-risk cell: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) at-risk management plan: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) at-risk prisoner: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) attendance for judicial purposes paragraph (f): amended, on 14 July 2017, by section 149 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 31).

Section 3(1) attendance for judicial purposes paragraph (g): repealed, on 1 July 2009, by section 87 of the Court Martial Act 2007 (2007 No 101).

Section 3(1) authorised property: replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 4(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 3(1) authorised property: amended, on 17 December 2016, by section 28(1) of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).

Section 3(1) biometric information: inserted, on 22 August 2017, by section 15 of the Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 42).

Section 3(1) contract prison: amended, on 8 December 2009, by section 8(1) of the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 59).

Section 3(1) contractor: amended, on 8 December 2009, by section 8(1) of the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 59).

Section 3(1) Director-General of an intelligence and security agency: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) drug paragraph (c): inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 4(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) electronic communication device: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 4(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 3(1) enforcement officer paragraph (a): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 3(1) enforcement officer paragraph (a)(i): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Section 3(1) escort duty paragraph (a)(iii): amended, on 14 July 2017, by section 149 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 31).

Section 3(1) family paragraph (b): replaced, on 26 April 2005, by section 7 of the Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).

Section 3(1) health centre manager: inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 4(5) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 3(1) imaging technology search: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) Independent Police Conduct Authority: inserted, on 29 November 2007, by section 26 of the Independent Police Conduct Authority Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 38).

Section 3(1) intelligence and security agency: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) legal adviser paragraph (a): replaced, on 1 August 2008, by section 348 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (2006 No 1).

Section 3(1) legal adviser paragraph (b): amended, on 1 July 2009, by section 87 of the Court Martial Act 2007 (2007 No 101).

Section 3(1) monitor: amended, on 8 December 2009, by section 8(1) of the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 59).

Section 3(1) nurse: inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 4(5) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 3(1) offender paragraph (c)(ii): amended, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

Section 3(1) officer paragraph (a)(v): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 3(1) officer paragraph (a)(v): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 4(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 3(1) officer paragraph (a)(vi): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 4(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 3(1) official agency paragraph (da): inserted, on 28 September 2017, by section 251 of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 (2017 No 10).

Section 3(1) official agency paragraph (i): amended, on 29 November 2007, by section 26 of the Independent Police Conduct Authority Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 38).

Section 3(1) official agency paragraph (j): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 4(4) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 3(1) official agency paragraph (k): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 4(4) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 3(1) person under control or supervision: replaced, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

Section 3(1) person under control or supervision paragraph (d): repealed, on 17 December 2016, by section 28(2) of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).

Section 3(1) Police Complaints Authority: repealed, on 29 November 2007, by section 26 of the Independent Police Conduct Authority Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 38).

Section 3(1) prison management contract: inserted, on 8 December 2009, by section 4 of the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 59).

Section 3(1) rub-down search: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) scanner search: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) scope of practice: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) self-care unit: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) shared cell: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) staff member of a prison or staff member paragraph (a)(ii): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 4(5) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 3(1) staff member of a prison or staff member paragraph (b)(ii): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 4(5) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 3(1) strip search: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 3(1) unauthorised item paragraph (ba): inserted, on 5 March 2013, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 3(1) unauthorised item paragraph (bb): inserted, on 5 March 2013, by section 4(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 3(1) unauthorised item paragraph (bc): inserted, on 11 November 2020, by section 30 of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 62).

Section 3(1) unauthorised item paragraph (c): replaced, on 3 April 2009, by section 4(6) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 3(1) unauthorised item paragraph (f): amended, on 5 March 2013, by section 4(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 3(1) unauthorised item paragraph (fa): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 4(7) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 3(1) unauthorised item paragraph (fa): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 4(4) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

4 Act binds the Crown

This Act binds the Crown.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 2A

5 Purpose of corrections system

(1)

The purpose of the corrections system is to improve public safety and contribute to the maintenance of a just society by—

(a)

ensuring that the community-based sentences, sentences of home detention, and custodial sentences and related orders that are imposed by the courts and the New Zealand Parole Board are administered in a safe, secure, humane, and effective manner; and

(b)

providing for corrections facilities to be operated in accordance with rules set out in this Act and regulations made under this Act that are based, amongst other matters, on the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners; and

(c)

assisting in the rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into the community, where appropriate, and so far as is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances and within the resources available, through the provision of programmes and other interventions; and

(d)

providing information to the courts and the New Zealand Parole Board to assist them in decision-making.

(2)

Subsection (1) does not affect the application or operation of any other Act.

Section 5(1)(a): amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

6 Principles guiding corrections system

(1)

The principles that guide the operation of the corrections system are that—

(a)

the maintenance of public safety is the paramount consideration in decisions about the management of persons under control or supervision:

(b)

victims’ interests must be considered in decisions related to the management of persons under control or supervision:

(c)

in order to reduce the risk of reoffending, the cultural background, ethnic identity, and language of offenders must, where appropriate and to the extent practicable within the resources available, be taken into account—

(i)

in developing and providing rehabilitative programmes and other interventions intended to effectively assist the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into the community; and

(ii)

in sentence planning and management of offenders:

(d)

offenders must, where appropriate and so far as is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances, be provided with access to any process designed to promote restorative justice between offenders and victims:

(e)

an offender’s family must, so far as is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances and within the resources available, be recognised and involved in—

(i)

decisions related to sentence planning and management, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of the offender into the community; and

(ii)

planning for participation by the offender in programmes, services, and activities in the course of his or her sentence:

(f)

the corrections system must ensure the fair treatment of persons under control or supervision by—

(i)

providing those persons with information about the rules, obligations, and entitlements that affect them; and

(ii)

ensuring that decisions about those persons are taken in a fair and reasonable way and that those persons have access to an effective complaints procedure:

(g)

sentences and orders must not be administered more restrictively than is reasonably necessary to ensure the maintenance of the law and the safety of the public, corrections staff, and persons under control or supervision:

(h)

offenders must, so far as is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances within the resources available, be given access to activities that may contribute to their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community:

(i)

contact between prisoners and their families must be encouraged and supported, so far as is reasonable and practicable and within the resources available, and to the extent that this contact is consistent with the maintenance of safety and security requirements.

(2)

Persons who exercise powers and duties under this Act or any regulations made under this Act must take into account those principles set out in subsection (1) that are applicable (if any), so far as is practicable in the circumstances.

(3)

Subsection (1) does not affect the application or operation of any other Act.

Part 2 Corrections system

Subpart 1—Statutory roles and responsibilities

Minister, chief executive, and Commissioner of Police

7 Powers and functions of Minister

(1)

The Minister has the following powers and functions:

(a)

declaring land or buildings to be a community work centre or prison in accordance with section 30 or section 32:

(b)

approving rates of earnings for prisoners in accordance with section 66:

(c)

fixing the weekly rate of the cost of detaining prisoners for the purpose of enabling deductions to be made under section 68:

(d)

placing notifications in the Gazette in accordance with section 170:

(e)

presenting a copy of the terms of any prison management contract, and of the terms of any variation to a prison management contract, to the House of Representatives in accordance with section 199I:

(f)

any other powers and functions conferred under this Act or regulations made under this Act.

(2)

The Minister may give general directions to the chief executive in relation to the exercise of powers and functions conferred on the chief executive under this Act or any regulations made under this Act.

(3)

Subsection (2) does not authorise the Minister to give directions about the exercise of powers and functions in relation to a particular person.

(4)

As soon as practicable after giving a direction under subsection (2), the Minister must publish in the Gazette and present to the House of Representatives a copy of the direction.

Section 7(1)(e): replaced, on 8 December 2009, by section 8(1) of the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 59).

8 Powers and functions of chief executive

(1)

The chief executive has the following powers and functions:

(a)

ensuring that the corrections system operates in accordance with the purposes set out in section 5 and the principles set out in section 6:

(b)

ensuring the safe custody and welfare of prisoners (other than prisoners detained in Police jails or in institutions that are not corrections prisons):

(c)

ensuring the welfare of offenders subject to community-based sentences or sentences of home detention or conditions imposed under the Parole Act 2002 or Sentencing Act 2002, during periods while, in the presence of any employee of the department, those offenders carry out their sentences or undergo any supervision forming part of the conditions to which they are subject:

(d)

exercising the powers conferred by section 62 (which relates to the temporary release or removal of prisoners):

(e)

visiting and inspecting any prison, community work centre, or probation office and, at his or her discretion, interviewing any person under control or supervision:

(f)

inquiring into the treatment and conduct of persons under control or supervision:

(g)

inquiring into all abuses or alleged abuses within each prison, community work centre, or probation office or in connection with it:

(h)

inquiring into any complaint made to him or her by a person under control or supervision:

(i)

exercising all or any of the powers and functions of a prison manager:

(j)

issuing instructions or guidelines under section 196:

(k)

ensuring that processes are established and maintained to—

(i)

identify the communities significantly affected by policies and practices in the corrections system; and

(ii)

provide opportunities for those identified communities to give their views on those policies and practices; and

(iii)

ensure that those views are taken into account:

(l)

any other powers and functions conferred by or under this Act or regulations made under this Act.

(2)

The chief executive must consult with the Commissioner of Police, or any person nominated for the purpose by the Commissioner, about the manner in which powers and functions conferred under this Act or any regulations made under this Act on the chief executive are to be exercised in relation to—

(a)

any Police jail; or

(b)

any prisoner detained in a Police jail.

(3)

The chief executive must comply with any general direction given by the Minister under section 7(2).

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 3

Section 8(1)(c): replaced, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

Section 8(1)(c): amended, on 17 December 2016, by section 29 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).

9 Powers and functions of Commissioner of Police

The Commissioner of Police has, in relation to every Police jail and every prisoner detained in a Police jail, the following powers and functions:

(a)

ensuring the safe custody and welfare of prisoners detained in Police jails:

(b)

the powers and functions conferred by or under this Act or any regulations made under this Act.

10 Delegation of powers and functions of chief executive

Despite anything in clauses 2 to 4 of Schedule 6 of the Public Service Act 2020 or in any other provision of this Act or of any other enactment, the chief executive must not delegate to any staff member of a prison—

(a)

the power to make an application under section 60(1) of the Parole Act 2002 (which relates to the recall of offenders); or

(b)

the power to make an application under section 107 of the Parole Act 2002 (which relates to orders that offenders not be released); or

(c)

the power to designate employees as hearing adjudicators under section 15; or

(d)

the power to appoint inspectors of corrections under section 28; or

(e)

the power to authorise extended periods of detention in a Police jail under section 34(5); or

(ea)

the power to reconsider a prisoner’s security classification under section 48(2); or

(f)

the powers conferred by section 58 or section 59(1)(b) (which relate to the segregation of prisoners on the grounds of security, good order, or safety; or for the purpose of protective custody); or

(g)

the power to grant approvals under sections 66(5)(a) and 66A(2) (which relate to the types and conditions of work in which prisoners will be employed); or

(gaa)

the power under section 81AB to reconsider a decision refusing approval for a placement, or ending the placement, of a child; or

(ga)

the power to approve an employee for the purposes of any regulations made under this Act; or

(h)

the power to appoint security monitors under section 172; or

(i)

the power to issue guidelines or instructions under section 196; or

(j)

the power to appoint monitors under section 199E(1) or (2); or

(k)

any power, function, or duty conferred or imposed on the chief executive by or under this enactment or any other enactment where the power, function, or duty relates to the review of any act or omission of any staff member of a contract prison.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 3A

Section 10: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Section 10(ea): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 5(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 10(g): replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 5(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 10(gaa): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 5 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 10(ga): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 5(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 10(j): amended, on 8 December 2009, by section 8(1) of the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 59).

Other persons with other powers and functions in relation to prisoners

11 Prison manager and other staff of prisons

(1)

For every prison (not being a contract prison or a Police jail), the chief executive must appoint under the Public Service Act 2020—

(a)

a suitable person as prison manager; and

(b)

as many other suitable persons as are required as employees.

(2)

For every contract prison, the contractor must appoint—

(a)

a suitable person as prison manager; and

(b)

as many other suitable persons as are required as employees.

(3)

For every Police jail, the Commissioner of Police must appoint or designate—

(a)

a suitable person as prison manager (who may be called the jail manager); and

(b)

as many other suitable persons as are required as employees.

(4)

The chief executive (in the case of a corrections prison), the contractor responsible for managing a contract prison (in the case of a contract prison), or the Commissioner of Police (in the case of a Police jail) may, from time to time,—

(a)

engage any suitable person as an independent contractor to provide non-custodial services in respect of the prison; or

(b)

enter into other arrangements to provide access to those services.

(5)

For the purposes of subsection (4), non-custodial services includes (without limitation)—

(a)

chaplaincy, counselling, educational, health, or other specialist services for the prisoners in the prison; or

(b)

any other services provided to assist the rehabilitation of prisoners in the prison and their reintegration into the community; or

(c)

laundry, cleaning, catering, or other services in relation to the prison.

(6)

Every prison must have the number of staff members of each gender that is sufficient to ensure that all duties required by this Act or by any regulations made under this Act to be carried out in the prison by staff members, are able to be carried out in that prison.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 6

Section 11(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

12 Powers and functions of prison managers

The prison manager has, in relation to the prison for which the manager is appointed or designated as manager, the following powers and functions:

(a)

ensuring that the prison operates in accordance with the purposes set out in section 5 and the principles set out in section 6:

(b)

ensuring the safe custody and welfare of prisoners received in the prison:

(c)

carrying out the functions conferred on the manager by section 33:

(d)

establishing and maintaining processes to—

(i)

identify the communities significantly affected by policies and practices at the prison; and

(ii)

provide opportunities for those identified communities to give their views on those policies and practices; and

(iii)

ensure those views are taken into account:

(e)

any other powers and functions conferred under this Act or regulations made under this Act.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 7

13 Delegation of powers and functions of prison managers

(1)

The prison manager may, either generally or particularly, delegate to any other person who has powers or functions under this Act, or who is an employee of the department and in the opinion of the chief executive is suitably qualified to exercise the power or function, any of the powers or functions of the prison manager under this Act or any regulations made under this Act, including powers or functions delegated to the prison manager under this Act.

(2)

Subject to any general or special directions given or conditions imposed by the prison manager, the person to whom any powers or functions are delegated under this section may exercise those powers or functions in the same manner and with the same effect as if they had been conferred on that person directly by this Act or any regulations made under this Act, as the case may be, and not by delegation.

(3)

Despite anything in subsection (1) or any other enactment, the prison manager must not delegate to any person—

(a)

the power to make rules under section 33; or

(b)

the power of delegation conferred by subsection (1).

(4)

The power of the prison manager to delegate under this section—

(a)

is subject to any prohibitions, restrictions, or conditions contained in this Act or any other enactment in relation to the delegation of the prison manager’s functions or powers; but

(b)

does not limit any power of delegation conferred on the prison manager by any other enactment.

(5)

Every person purporting to act under any delegation under this section must, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation.

(6)

Any delegation under this section—

(a)

must be in writing:

(b)

may be made to a specified person or to persons of a specified class, or to the holder or holders for the time being of a specified office or a specified class of offices:

(c)

may be revoked at any time.

(7)

No delegation under this Act affects or prevents the exercise of any power or function by the prison manager, or affects the responsibility of the prison manager for the actions of any person acting under the delegation.

14 Powers and functions of officers

(1)

An officer appointed or designated under section 11(1)(b), (2)(b), or (3)(b) to provide custodial services in respect of a prison has the following powers and functions:

(a)

ensuring the safe custody and welfare of prisoners under his or her control:

(b)

any other powers and functions conferred under this Act or regulations made under this Act.

(2)

In the exercise of powers and functions referred to in subsection (1), an officer is subject to the directions of the prison manager.

15 Hearing adjudicators

(1)

The chief executive must designate in respect of each prison (other than a contract prison or a Police jail) as many suitable employees of the department as hearing adjudicators as are required for the purposes of this Act.

(2)

The contractor responsible for the management of a contract prison must designate in respect of that prison as many suitable persons as hearing adjudicators as are required for the purposes of this Act.

(3)

The contractor may only designate persons who have been approved for the purpose by the chief executive.

16 Powers and functions of hearing adjudicators

A hearing adjudicator has the following powers and functions:

(a)

the powers and functions conferred on the adjudicator under subpart 5 of Part 2:

(b)

any other powers and functions conferred under this Act or any regulations made under this Act.

17 Appointment or engagement of security officers

(1)

The chief executive may appoint under the Public Service Act 2020 as many suitable persons as security officers as are required by the chief executive.

(2)

Every security contractor must, subject to the terms of the security contract, appoint or engage as many suitable persons as security officers as are required to carry out the obligations of the security contractor.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36I(1), (2)

Section 17(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

18 Powers and functions of security officers

(1)

A security officer has the following functions in respect of every prisoner who is under that security officer’s control while the officer undertakes courtroom custodial duties or escort duties:

(a)

preventing that prisoner’s escape from lawful custody:

(b)

preventing, or detecting and reporting on, the commission or attempted commission by that prisoner of unlawful acts:

(c)

ensuring good order and discipline on that prisoner’s part:

(d)

attending to that prisoner’s well-being:

(e)

attending to the security of any property of that prisoner that is in that prisoner’s possession.

(2)

A security officer has any other powers and functions that are conferred or imposed on security officers under this Act or under any other enactment.

(3)

For the purposes of this Act and any regulations made under this Act, a security officer has, in relation to the performance of the functions set out in subsection (1) and the powers and functions referred to in subsection (2), but only in relation to those powers and functions, all the powers and privileges of an officer.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36J

19 Visiting Justices

(1)

Every District Court Judge is a Visiting Justice for every prison.

(2)

The Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, appoint any Justice of the Peace or barrister or solicitor of the High Court to be a Visiting Justice for every prison.

(3)

When recommending the appointment of any person under subsection (2), the Minister of Justice must have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the persons holding office under subsection (2) represent a reasonable balance between—

(a)

Justices of the Peace; and

(b)

barristers or solicitors of the High Court.

(4)

Every Visiting Justice has the following powers in respect of each prison:

(a)

visiting and inspecting the prison and, at his or her discretion, interviewing any prisoner:

(b)

examining the treatment and conduct of prisoners:

(c)

inquiring into all abuses or alleged abuses within the prison or in connection with it:

(d)

inquiring into any matter referred to him or her by the chief executive:

(e)

for any of the purposes of this section, taking evidence on oath or otherwise:

(f)

[Repealed]

(g)

dealing with offences against discipline in accordance with this Act and any regulations made under this Act:

(h)

reporting in writing to the chief executive on any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (g) or on any other matters related to the prison, as often as the Visiting Justice considers appropriate, and whenever requested to do so by the chief executive.

(5)

Whenever a Visiting Justice reports to the chief executive under subsection (4)(h) about any matter concerning a Police jail or a prisoner detained in a Police jail, the Visiting Justice must forward a copy of his or her report to the Commissioner of Police.

(6)

A Visiting Justice appointed under subsection (2)—

(a)

holds office for a term of 3 years; and

(b)

may, from time to time, be reappointed; and

(c)

unless he or she sooner vacates, or ceases to hold, or is removed from office under subsection (7), continues to hold office until his or her successor comes into office, even though the term for which he or she was appointed has expired.

(7)

A Visiting Justice appointed under subsection (2)—

(a)

may resign from the office by delivering to the Minister of Justice a notice in writing to that effect and stating when the resignation takes effect:

(b)

ceases to hold office if he or she dies:

(c)

ceases to hold office if he or she is, under the Insolvency Act 2006, adjudged bankrupt:

(d)

may, at any time, be removed from the office by the Governor-General for inability to perform the functions of office, neglect of duty, or misconduct, proved to the satisfaction of the Governor-General:

(e)

has and enjoys, in the performance of his or her duties under this Act, the same protection as a Justice of the Peace acting in his or her criminal jurisdiction has and enjoys under sections 4A to 4F of the Justices of the Peace Act 1957.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 10

Section 19(4)(f): repealed, on 4 June 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 19(7)(c): amended, on 3 December 2007, by section 445 of the Insolvency Act 2006 (2006 No 55).

Section 19(7)(e): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

19A Health centre managers

(1)

For every prison (not being a contract prison or Police jail), the chief executive must appoint, under the Public Service Act 2020, a health centre manager.

(2)

A contractor must appoint a health centre manager for every contract prison managed by that contractor.

(3)

Each health centre manager must be a medical practitioner or a nurse.

(4)

Every health centre manager is responsible for ensuring the provision of health care and treatment to prisoners.

Section 19A: inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 7 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 19A(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

19B Delegation of powers and functions of health centre managers

(1)

A health centre manager may, either generally or particularly, delegate any of the powers and functions of the health centre manager under this Act or regulations made under this Act to a person specified in subsection (2) or (3).

(2)

In the case of a health centre manager appointed to a corrections prison that is not a contract prison, the delegation may be made to a registered health professional who is an employee of the department.

(3)

In the case of a health centre manager appointed to a contract prison, the delegation may be made to a registered health professional who is an employee of the contractor (or subcontractor, within the meaning of section 199C) that manages the contract prison.

(4)

Section 13(2) and (5) to (7) applies to a delegation under this section, and any reference in those provisions to a prison manager is taken to be a reference to a health centre manager.

Section 19B: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

20 Medical officers

(1)

The chief executive must ensure that every prison (other than a Police jail) has a sufficient number of medical officers to meet prisoners’ needs for medical care and medical treatment.

(2)

Every contractor must ensure that every contract prison managed by that contractor has a sufficient number of medical officers to meet prisoners’ needs for medical care and medical treatment.

(3)

Each medical officer must be a medical practitioner.

Section 20: replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 8 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

21 Protection of officers in discharge of functions

Every officer, while acting in that capacity, has all the powers, authority, protections, and privileges of a member of the Police (including a constable).

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 8

22 Protection of members of Armed Forces

If, in accordance with section 9 of the Defence Act 1990, any part of the Armed Forces (within the meaning of section 2(1) of that Act) is performing any public service in, or in connection with, a prison, every member of that part of the Armed Forces has, while performing that service,—

(a)

all the powers and functions of an officer; and

(b)

all the powers, authority, protections, and privileges of a member of the Police (including a constable).

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 8A

23 Restrictions on exercise of certain powers

(1)

Despite sections 21 and 22, sections 121, 128, 129, and 177 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (which relate to a general power to stop vehicles) do not apply to a member of the Armed Forces, or an officer who is not also a constable.

(2)

Despite sections 21 and 22, section 3(2)(a)(ii) of the Arms Act 1983 (which authorises the possession of firearms and restricted weapons by members of the Police) does not apply to a member of the Armed Forces, or an officer who is not also a member of the Police.

(3)

Despite sections 21 and 22, the following provisions do not apply to a member of the Armed Forces, or an officer who is not also a constable:

(a)

section 18 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (which confers powers of search and seizure):

(b)

section 13A of the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 1978 (which confers powers in relation to internal concealment):

(c)

[Repealed]

(d)

section 23 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (which confers powers in relation to internal searches):

(e)

sections 48 and 49 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (which confer powers in relation to surveillance devices).

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 8B

Section 23(1): amended, on 1 October 2012, by section 324(2) of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (2012 No 24).

Section 23(1): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 23(2): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 23(3): replaced, on 3 April 2009, by section 5 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 23(3): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 23(3)(a): replaced, on 1 October 2012, by section 324(3) of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (2012 No 24).

Section 23(3)(c): repealed, on 18 July 2013, by section 110(1) of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 (2013 No 53).

Section 23(3)(d): replaced, on 1 October 2012, by section 324(4) of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (2012 No 24).

Section 23(3)(e): inserted, on 1 October 2012, by section 324(4) of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (2012 No 24).

Persons with powers and functions in relation to administration of community-based sentences, sentences of home detention, conditions of release, or parole

Heading: replaced, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

Heading: amended, on 17 December 2016, by section 30 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).

24 Probation officers

(1)

The chief executive must appoint under the Public Service Act 2020 as many probation officers as are required for the purposes of this Act or any other enactment.

(2)

Despite anything in subsection (1), the chief executive may appoint any person, or the holder for the time being of any office or appointment, to act as a part-time probation officer, with all the powers and functions of a probation officer, if there are insufficient duties to justify the appointment of a full-time probation officer under that subsection.

(3)

The chief executive may designate persons to carry out any particular function or functions, or to exercise any particular power or powers, of a probation officer that the chief executive may specify in respect of that person.

(4)

The chief executive may designate persons appointed under this section to manage or work at 1 or more community work centres within any probation area.

(5)

Any appointment or designation under this section may be combined with any office, appointment, or position if the chief executive is satisfied that the functions of that office, appointment, or position are not inconsistent with those of a probation officer.

(6)

Any person appointed under subsection (2) may be paid out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose any remuneration by way of salary or fees, and any allowances, that are determined by the Minister.

(7)

In this section and in sections 25 and 27, probation area has the same meaning as in section 4(1) of the Sentencing Act 2002.

Compare: 1985 No 120 s 124

Section 24(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

25 Functions of probation officers

(1)

It is the function of every probation officer—

(a)

to supervise all persons placed under the officer’s supervision under a sentence of supervision or intensive supervision or community detention or home detention, and to ensure that the conditions of the sentence or of the release are complied with:

(ab)

to supervise all persons placed under the officer’s supervision under an extended supervision order made under Part 1A of the Parole Act 2002, and to ensure that the conditions of the order are complied with:

(ac)

to supervise all offenders released on parole and to ensure that the conditions of parole are complied with:

(ad)

to supervise offenders released on compassionate release under section 41 of the Parole Act 2002 and to ensure that the conditions of release (if any) are complied with:

(ae)

to supervise persons released subject to a protective supervision order under the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014 and to ensure that the requirements included in the order are complied with:

(b)

to arrange and administer community-based sentences and sentences of home detention imposed under section 80A of the Sentencing Act 2002 referred to the officer for that administration, and to ensure that the sentences are carried out:

(c)

to co-ordinate and arrange community involvement (including the use of volunteers) in the administration of any particular community-based sentence or sentence of home detention imposed under section 80A of the Sentencing Act 2002, or any particular release under the Parole Act 2002, where appropriate and in accordance with any instructions issued by a controlling officer:

(d)

to arrange, provide, and monitor rehabilitative and reintegrative programmes or related services for offenders, where appropriate, if directed to do so by a controlling officer:

(e)

to provide all the reports and information that a court, the New Zealand Parole Board, or a prison manager may require under any enactment:

(f)

to perform any other function that is prescribed by or under this Act or any other enactment.

(2)

It is the function of every probation officer or person who is designated or appointed to manage or be employed at a community work centre—

(a)

to monitor the compliance by offenders with the conditions of the sentence of community work; and

(b)

to ensure that authorised work is available for offenders sentenced to community work; and

(c)

to perform any other function that is prescribed by or under this Act or any other enactment; and

(d)

to report to the controlling officer in the officer’s probation area on the matters specified in paragraphs (a) to (c) and on any other matter relating to community work that he or she thinks fit.

(3)

A probation officer may commence or prosecute any proceedings in any court on behalf of any other probation officer.

Compare: 1985 No 120 s 125

Section 25(1)(a): replaced, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

Section 25(1)(a): amended, on 17 December 2016, by section 31 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).

Section 25(1)(ab): inserted, on 7 July 2004, by section 14(3) of the Parole (Extended Supervision) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 67).

Section 25(1)(ac): inserted, on 15 December 2005, by section 4 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 97).

Section 25(1)(ad): inserted, on 15 December 2005, by section 4 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 97).

Section 25(1)(ae): inserted, on 12 December 2014, by section 144 of the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014 (2014 No 68).

Section 25(1)(b): replaced, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

Section 25(1)(c): amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

26 Probation officers may delegate power to supervise offenders on community work

A probation officer may delegate, in writing, to any suitably trained employee of the department his or her powers to control, direct, and supervise offenders subject to a sentence of community work in accordance with section 65 of the Sentencing Act 2002.

Compare: 1985 No 120 s 124A

27 Controlling officer of probation area

(1)

The chief executive must appoint under the Public Service Act 2020 a controlling officer for each probation area.

(2)

A controlling officer must oversee the administration of all community-based sentences or sentences of home detention imposed under section 80A of the Sentencing Act 2002 being served in his or her probation area and is responsible for probation officers and community work centres in that area.

(3)

Subject to any directions given by the chief executive, a controlling officer may delegate, in writing, to any probation officer or to any other officer or employee of the department all or any of his or her powers and functions as a controlling officer in respect of his or her probation area.

(4)

A person appointed or designated to manage a community work centre may, if permitted by a delegation referred to in subsection (3), delegate to any employee engaged at the centre any power so delegated.

(5)

The fact that any officer or employee of the department exercises or performs any power or function of a controlling officer is conclusive evidence of his or her authority to do so.

(6)

A controlling officer has and may exercise all the powers of a probation officer in respect of his or her probation area.

Compare: 1985 No 120 s 127

Section 27(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Section 27(2): amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

General

28 Inspectors of corrections

The chief executive must appoint as many suitable employees of the department as inspectors of corrections as are required for the purposes of this Act.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 5(1)

29 Powers and functions of inspectors of corrections

(1)

Inspectors of corrections have the following powers and functions:

(a)

the powers and functions conferred by subpart 6 of Part 2:

(b)

visiting and inspecting any prison, community work centre, probation office, or other place (including a dwellinghouse) at which a person under control or supervision is or was detained or required to attend, work, or live, and, at his or her discretion, interviewing any person who is or was under control or supervision:

(c)

examining the treatment and conduct of persons who are or were under control or supervision:

(d)

inquiring into all abuses or alleged abuses relating to the management of the sentence of a person who is or was under control or supervision:

(e)

inquiring into any matter referred to him or her by the chief executive:

(f)

for the purposes of this section, taking evidence under oath, or otherwise:

(g)

reporting in writing to the chief executive on any of the matters outlined above, or any other matter relating to any prison, community work centre, probation office, or any other place (including a dwellinghouse) at which a person under control or supervision is required to attend, work, or live, as often as he or she sees fit, and whenever he or she is requested to do so by the chief executive:

(h)

any other powers and functions conferred under this Act or any other enactment.

(2)

Whenever an inspector of corrections reports to the chief executive under subsection (1)(g) about any matter concerning a Police jail or a prisoner detained in a Police jail, the inspector must forward a copy of his or her report to the Commissioner of Police.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 5(2)

Subpart 2—Establishment and operation of community work centres

30 Establishment of community work centres

(1)

The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare any land or building or any part of any land or building to be a community work centre.

(2)

The Minister may, in the same way, declare any land or building or any part of any land or building to be added to, or excluded from, any community work centre.

(3)

Every notice under this section takes effect from the date specified in the notice.

Compare: 1985 No 120 s 126

31 Chief executive may make rules for community work centres and offenders carrying out community work

(1)

The chief executive may make any rules that the chief executive considers appropriate for—

(a)

the management of any community work centre; and

(b)

the conduct and welfare of the offenders subject to a sentence of community work while carrying out that sentence at a community work centre or at any other place.

(2)

Any rules made under subsection (1) may be made for—

(a)

community work centres, or for any community work centre or class of community work centres specified in the rules:

(b)

all offenders subject to a sentence of community work or any class of those offenders specified in the rules.

(3)

Any rules made under subsection (1) must not be inconsistent with this Act, the Sentencing Act 2002, the Parole Act 2002, or any regulations made under any of those Acts.

(4)

Rules under subsection (1) are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Compare: 1985 No 120 s 129

Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section
Publication	It is not required to be published	LA19 s 73(2)
Presentation	It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019	LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a)
Disallowance	It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives	LA19 ss 115, 116
This note is not part of the Act.

Section 31(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Subpart 3—Establishment and operation of prisons

32 Establishment of prisons

(1)

The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare any land or building or any part of any land or building to be either or both of the following kinds of prison:

(a)

a corrections prison:

(b)

a Police jail.

(2)

The Minister may, in the same way, declare any land or building or any part of any land or building to be added to, or excluded from, any prison.

(2A)

Nothing in section 9 of the Resource Management Act 1991 applies to the detention of prisoners in a court cell block that is declared by notice in the Gazette to be a part of a corrections prison.

(3)

Every notice under this section takes effect from the date specified in the notice.

(4)

Despite subsections (1) to (3), the Minister may, by notice in writing, declare any land or building, or part of any land or building that is the subject of a direction under section 191 (which relates to requisitioned property) to be a temporary corrections prison.

(5)

A declaration under subsection (4)—

(a)

comes into effect on the date of the declaration:

(b)

continues in force until the Minister, by notice in writing, declares that the land and buildings that were the subject of the declaration under subsection (4) are no longer required for use as a temporary corrections prison.

(6)

The Minister must—

(a)

make a declaration under subsection (5)(b) in respect of any land and buildings as soon as practicable after receiving a notice from the chief executive under section 194(2)(a) relating to the land and buildings in question:

(b)

publish in the Gazette a notice of any declaration under subsection (4) or subsection (5)(b) as soon as practicable after the declaration is made.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 4

Section 32(2A): inserted, on 8 December 2009, by section 4 of the Corrections (Use of Court Cells) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 60).

33 Manager may make rules for prison

(1)

The chief executive may, subject to subsection (6), authorise the manager of a corrections prison to make rules that the manager considers appropriate for the management of the prison and for the conduct and safe custody of the prisoners.

(2)

The Commissioner of Police may, subject to subsection (6), authorise the manager of a Police jail to make rules that the manager considers appropriate for the management of the prison and for the conduct and safe custody of the prisoners.

(3)

An authorisation given by the chief executive or the Commissioner of Police under subsection (1) or subsection (2) may be subject to—

(a)

any conditions imposed by the chief executive or, as the case requires, the Commissioner of Police:

(b)

any limitations placed on the scope or subject matter of the rules by the chief executive or, as the case requires, the Commissioner of Police.

(4)

Any rules made under subsection (1) or subsection (2) may be revoked at any time by the prison manager and,—

(a)

in the case of rules made by the manager of a corrections prison, by the chief executive:

(b)

in the case of rules made by the manager of a Police jail, by the Commissioner of Police.

(5)

Any rules made under subsection (1) or subsection (2) must not be inconsistent with this Act, the Sentencing Act 2002, the Parole Act 2002, or any regulations made under any of those Acts.

(6)

No rules may be made under this section that relate to matters for which rules must or may be made under section 45A.

(7)

Rules under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 7(1)

Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section
Publication	It is not required to be published	LA19 s 73(2)
Presentation	It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019	LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a)
Disallowance	It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives	LA19 ss 115, 116
This note is not part of the Act.

Section 33(1): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 9(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 33(2): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 9(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 33(6): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 9(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 33(7): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Detention and custody of prisoners

34 Detention of prisoners

(1)

A person who is sentenced to imprisonment must serve the sentence in a corrections prison.

(2)

Despite subsection (1), any person sentenced to imprisonment may be detained in a Police jail on 1 or more occasions for a period not exceeding—

(a)

the maximum period of detention; or

(b)

any longer period required for the purposes of section 65(1) or for the purposes of giving effect to an order under section 65(3).

(3)

A person may be held in custody on remand in—

(a)

any Police jail on 1 or more occasions for a period not exceeding—

(i)

the maximum period of detention; or

(ii)

any longer period required for the purposes of section 65(1)(a) or for giving effect to an order under section 65(3); or

(b)

any corrections prison designated for the purpose by the chief executive.

(4)

Subsections (1) to (3) are subject to the provisions of this Act and any other enactment.

(5)

In this section, maximum period of detention, in relation to any prisoner, means—

(a)

a period of detention not exceeding 7 days; or

(b)

if the chief executive considers that there is a shortage of accommodation in corrections prisons in the relevant area, or that the safety of the prisoner is in danger, one period of detention not exceeding 14 days after the date on which the chief executive authorises that extended period of detention in a Police jail; or

(c)

if a Visiting Justice is satisfied, on application by the chief executive after the chief executive has given an authorisation under paragraph (b), that—

(i)

there is a shortage of accommodation in corrections prisons in the relevant area or that the safety of the prisoner is in danger; and

(ii)

a further period of detention in a Police jail that extends beyond the period authorised under paragraph (b) is justified,—

a period of detention not exceeding 14 days after the date on which the Visiting Justice authorises that extended period of detention in a Police jail.

(6)

The chief executive must consult with the Commissioner of Police before exercising the power conferred by subsection (5)(b).

(7)

In this section, references to persons sentenced to imprisonment include references to persons committed to prison or otherwise liable to be detained in custody, except for the purposes of any remand pending or during trial or sentence.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 12

Section 34(1): amended, on 17 December 2016, by section 32 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).

34A Detention of child or young person serving sentence of imprisonment

(1)

Notwithstanding anything in this Act,—

(a)

any young person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment may be detained under that sentence in any residence approved by the chief executive of the department for the time being responsible for the administration of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 and the chief executive; and

(b)

any child who is serving a sentence of imprisonment must be detained under that sentence in such a residence.

(2)

The provisions of this Act and of the Parole Act 2002, and regulations made under those Acts, continue to apply, with any necessary modifications, to a child or young person who is detained for the time being in a residence in accordance with subsection (1).

(3)

For the purposes of this section, the terms child, young person, and residence have the same meanings as they have in the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.

Compare: 1985 No 120 s 142A

Section 34A: inserted, on 1 July 2013, by section 4 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

Section 34A(1)(a): amended, on 14 July 2017, by section 149 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 31).

Section 34A(3): amended, on 14 July 2017, by section 149 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 31).

35 Detention during transit

(1)

While any prisoner or other person in custody is being taken to or from any prison, he or she may be detained in any other prison or in a Police station or hospital.

(2)

A prisoner may, for the purposes of section 65(1) or for the purposes of giving effect to an order under section 65(3) be held in—

(a)

any prison; or

(b)

a hospital, Police station, or other place authorised by the court or Judge or Registrar—

(i)

for not more than 7 days; or

(ii)

for any longer period that the court or Judge or Registrar considers necessary or appropriate and specifies in the order.

Compare: 1954 No 51 ss 13, 26(3)

36 Police station deemed Police jail for certain purposes

While any person is detained in a Police station under section 35, the Police station is deemed to be a Police jail and the constable in charge of the station is deemed to be the prison manager within the meaning of this Act.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 14

Section 36: amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

37 Effect of warrant, etc, for specified prisons

(1)

Except where otherwise allowed by law, no person may be received in a prison without a valid committal order.

(2)

Any committal order issued, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, for the detention of any person in any specified prison is sufficient authority for the reception and detention of that person in any other prison to which he or she might have been committed.

(3)

Any committal order identifying the prison by reference to its location or by any other sufficient description is not invalid by reason only that the prison is usually known by another name or description.

(4)

In this section, committal order includes any warrant, writ, order, direction, or authority requiring the detention of any person.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 15; SR 2000/81 r 33

38 Legal custody of prisoners

(1)

The chief executive has the legal custody of—

(a)

every person lawfully detained in a corrections prison:

(b)

every person under the control of a security officer or officer of a corrections prison, while that person carries out courtroom custodial duties or escort duties.

(2)

The Commissioner of Police has the legal custody of—

(a)

every person lawfully detained in—

(i)

a Police jail; or

(ii)

if section 35 applies, a Police station:

(b)

every person under the control of a Police employee, while that person carries out courtroom custodial duties or escort duties.

(3)

Legal custody under subsection (1) commences as soon as the person is received within a corrections prison or placed under the control of any security officer or officer of a corrections prison and continues while the person—

(a)

is detained in the prison; or

(b)

is for any reason outside the prison under the control or supervision of any security officer or officer of a corrections prison, staff member of a corrections prison, or probation officer, under the authority of this Act.

(4)

Legal custody under subsection (2) commences as soon as the person is received within a Police jail or is placed under the control of a Police employee and continues while the person—

(a)

is detained in the prison; or

(b)

is for any reason outside the prison under the control of any Police employee, under the authority of this Act.

(5)

Despite subsections (3) and (4), a person who is temporarily released from custody under section 62 or under any other enactment is not in legal custody at any time while he or she is at large following his or her release.

(6)

If any prisoner is for any reason outside a prison under the control or supervision of any probation officer under the authority of this Act, that probation officer has the powers of an officer to give any lawful order to the prisoner, and is an officer for the purposes of the following provisions:

(a)

section 21 (which relates to the protection of officers in the discharge of their functions):

(b)

section 40 (which requires prisoners to obey lawful orders):

(c)

section 128(1) (which relates to offences by prisoners against discipline):

(d)

section 184 (which relates to the arrest of persons unlawfully at large).

(7)

The status of any person under this section as a person in the legal custody of the chief executive or the Commissioner of Police, as the case may be, is not affected by the person’s presence in a courtroom (whether or not, for the purposes of any other enactment, the person is also in the custody of the court before, during, or after that period).

(8)

However, any security officer, other officer, or Police employee who is responsible for the control or supervision of the prisoner under this Act must—

(a)

carry out, or facilitate the carrying out of, any directions given by the presiding Judge about the treatment or containment of the prisoner while the prisoner is on court premises; and

(b)

facilitate the exercise of powers by a courts security officer under section 26 of the Courts Security Act 1999 in relation to the prisoner.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 16(1)–(3)

Section 38(2)(b): amended, on 1 October 2008, by section 130(1) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 38(4): amended, on 1 October 2008, by section 130(1) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 38(4)(b): amended, on 1 October 2008, by section 130(1) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 38(8): amended, on 1 October 2008, by section 130(1) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

39 Duty of prisoner to return if control or supervision ceases

(1)

If, owing to the illness or incapacity of the officer, staff member, or probation officer having the control or supervision of any prisoner outside the prison, or for any other reason, that control or supervision ceases, the prisoner must return to the prison immediately.

(2)

If the prisoner fails, without reasonable excuse (the proof of which lies on the prisoner), to return, he or she is deemed to have escaped from lawful custody and to be unlawfully at large, and is liable accordingly.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 16(4)

40 Prisoners must obey lawful orders

A prisoner must promptly obey every lawful order given to him or her by—

(a)

an officer; or

(b)

a staff member.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 142

41 Collection of biometric information, etc, from prisoner

(1)

An officer may direct that a prisoner submit to—

(a)

photographs being taken of the prisoner:

(b)

biometric information being collected from the prisoner:

(c)

measurements being taken from the prisoner:

(d)

any other prescribed procedure designed to create a record to enable the subsequent identification of the prisoner.

(2)

No procedure that purports to authorise the taking of a bodily sample from a prisoner may be prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1)(d).

(3)

The powers conferred by subsection (1)—

(a)

may be exercised only for the purpose of—

(i)

facilitating the management and security of the prison; and

(ii)

verifying the identity of prisoners upon release into the community to ensure public safety; and

(b)

must be exercised subject to the provisions of this Act and any other enactment.

(4)

If necessary, reasonable force may be used by an officer to compel the prisoner to submit to the taking of photographs, the collection of biometric information, the taking of measurements, or other prescribed procedures.

(5)

The chief executive must ensure that, if the prisoner is a person accused of an offence and subsequently acquitted, all information collected or taken from the prisoner under this section during the prisoner’s detention in respect of the charge, and any record of identifying information created in reliance on subsection (1) during that period, are immediately destroyed.

Section 41: replaced, on 22 August 2017, by section 16 of the Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 42).

42 Certain information to be given to recently received prisoners

(1)

The manager of a prison must ensure that, on the reception of a prisoner, or reasonably promptly after the prisoner is received, the prisoner is given, in writing, relevant and sufficient information about—

(a)

the operation of the prison; and

(b)

the rules of the prison made under section 33; and

(c)

the rules about authorised property made under section 45A; and

(d)

the entitlements of prisoners; and

(e)

offences against discipline under sections 128 to 131; and

(f)

the complaints system operating at the prison.

(2)

The manager of a prison must ensure that, on the reception into the prison of a prisoner who is a citizen of another country, or promptly after the prisoner is received, the prisoner is given, in writing, advice that—

(a)

the prisoner may require the manager to inform a consular representative of the country of which the prisoner is a citizen of his or her detention; and

(b)

any correspondence addressed to a representative by the prisoner will be forwarded to that representative without delay.

(3)

The manager of a prison must, as far as is practicable, also provide the information and advice in a form and language that are accessible and appropriate to the prisoner.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 34

Section 42(1): replaced, on 28 April 2020, by section 7(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 42(3): inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 7(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Prisoners’ property

43 Authorised property

(1)

A prisoner may be issued with, or allowed to keep, authorised property subject to—

(a)

any condition set out in rules made under section 45A; and

(b)

any special conditions imposed by the prison manager relating to the use of the property; and

(c)

the condition described in section 44(1).

(2)

Despite subsection (1), the prison manager may refuse to issue or allow a prisoner to keep an item of property if he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that—

(a)

the item may be used to injure the prisoner or any other person, or to damage property; or

(b)

the item is a camera, tape recorder, or electronic device that may be used to record security features or actions in the prison; or

(c)

the item may be used to circumvent practices or procedures in the prison; or

(d)

the item has been obtained through coercion of a prisoner or as a result of other improper behaviour; or

(e)

the item is objectionable; or

(f)

the item may assist a prisoner to—

(i)

discover new methods of committing offences; or

(ii)

continue offending; or

(g)

the item may interfere with the effective management of the prison.

(3)

Despite subsection (1), the prison manager may refuse to issue or allow a prisoner to keep any item of authorised property—

(a)

if the prisoner is—

(i)

subject to a penalty of forfeiture of privileges imposed under subpart 5 of Part 2; or

(ii)

the subject of a direction under section 60 for the reason described in section 60(1)(b) (which relates to assessing or ensuring the prisoner’s mental health); or

(iii)

subject to cell confinement imposed as a penalty under subpart 5 of Part 2; or

(b)

if the prisoner is detained in a Police jail and, in the opinion of the manager, having regard to the facilities available at the Police jail and the resources available, it is not practicable to allow the prisoner to keep the item; or

(c)

in any other circumstances specified in regulations made under this Act or rules made under section 45A.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 113

Section 43(1): replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 11(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 43(3)(c): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 11(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

44 Standard conditions of issue and transfer of issued items

(1)

The condition referred to in section 43(1)(c) is that, before the item is issued to the prisoner, the prisoner must acknowledge in writing that—

(a)

the prisoner accepts full responsibility for the property; and

(b)

the corrections authorities are not liable for any loss of, or damage to, the property; and

(c)

the property may not be transferred to another prisoner without the prior approval of the prison manager; and

(d)

the prisoner will comply with any special conditions imposed under section 43(1)(b).

(2)

This section does not—

(a)

apply to any item of property declared by rules made under section 45A as prison property to which this section does not apply; or

(b)

apply to any property while it is under the immediate control and supervision of any of the corrections authorities; or

(c)

limit any conditions set out in rules made under section 45A relating to the issue, keeping, or transfer of authorised property.

(3)

In this section, the corrections authorities include the following:

(a)

the Crown:

(b)

a staff member:

(c)

a contractor:

(d)

an employee of a contractor:

(e)

a security contractor:

(f)

an employee of a security contractor:

(g)

a constable:

(h)

a security officer.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 114

Section 44(1): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 12(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 44(2)(a): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 12(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 44(2)(c): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 12(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 44(3)(g): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

45 Disposal and destruction of prisoner property

(1)

An item of prisoner property may be destroyed or disposed of in a manner approved by the prison manager if the prison manager considers the item to be—

(a)

a dangerous item or substance; or

(b)

a health hazard; or

(c)

inflammable; or

(d)

alcohol; or

(e)

a controlled drug (within the meaning of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975); or

(f)

objectionable; or

(g)

perishable.

(2)

An item of prisoner property may be destroyed or disposed of in a manner approved by the prison manager if the prison manager requires the item to be removed from the prison in accordance with any regulations made under this Act, and the prisoner concerned fails to comply with that requirement reasonably promptly.

(3)

Any destruction of a prisoner’s property must be carried out in the prisoner’s presence unless—

(a)

destruction in his or her presence is dangerous or impracticable; or

(b)

the prisoner cannot be identified or located.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 120

Section 45(1)(d): replaced, on 18 December 2013, by section 417(1) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (2012 No 120).

45A Rules about authorised property

(1)

The chief executive—

(a)

must, in respect of all corrections prisons, make rules declaring the items of property that prisoners may be issued with or allowed to keep; and

(b)

may make rules imposing conditions that attach to an item of property so declared.

(c)

[Repealed]

(d)

[Repealed]

(e)

[Repealed]

(2)

The Commissioner of Police—

(a)

must, in respect of all Police jails, make rules declaring the items of property that prisoners may be issued with or allowed to keep; and

(b)

may make rules specifying conditions that attach to an item of property so declared.

(c)

[Repealed]

(3)

Rules under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section
Publication	The maker must:	LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14
	• notify it in the Gazette with a statement of the Internet site on which it is published, the place where it can be inspected, and the place where it can be purchased
	• publish it on a website
	• make it available for inspection free of charge
	• make it available for sale at a reasonable price
Presentation	The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives	LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a)
Disallowance	It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives	LA19 ss 115, 116
This note is not part of the Act.

Section 45A: inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 13 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 45A(1)(c): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Section 45A(1)(d): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Section 45A(1)(e): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Section 45A(2)(c): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Section 45A(3): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Trust account and purchasing system

46 Trust account and purchasing system for prisoners

(1)

The chief executive must ensure that 1 or more trust accounts in which money belonging to prisoners is held exclusively for particular prisoners are opened and operated.

(2)

A trust account must be operated and maintained in the prescribed manner.

(3)

A prisoner must be paid all the money held exclusively for the prisoner in a trust account when the prisoner is discharged from a prison.

(4)

If a prisoner dies while in legal custody,—

(a)

the entries in any trust account that relate to the prisoner must be balanced as at the date of death; and

(b)

any money held exclusively for that prisoner must be paid to the executor or administrator of the prisoner’s estate.

(5)

The chief executive must ensure that, in respect of each corrections prison, a purchasing system is established through which prisoners may buy approved items.

(6)

A prisoner may buy an item through the purchasing system only if the prisoner—

(a)

uses money held exclusively for him or her in the trust account; and

(b)

has enough money in the trust account to buy it.

Compare: SR 2000/81 rr 125, 128

Security classifications

47 Security classifications

(1)

The chief executive must ensure that every prisoner who is subject to a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding 3 months is assigned a security classification that reflects the level of risk posed by that prisoner while inside or outside prison, including the risk of escape and the risk that escape would pose to the public.

(2)

[Repealed]

(3)

The security classification of each prisoner must—

(a)

be undertaken and reviewed in the prescribed manner; and

(b)

be reviewed—

(i)

at least once in every 6 months, unless an exemption from this requirement is prescribed; or

(ii)

whenever there is a significant change in the prisoner’s circumstances.

(4)

For the purposes of subsection (3)(b)(ii), there is a significant change in a prisoner’s circumstances if—

(a)

there is a change to the length of the period that the prisoner is required to serve in detention (whether as a consequence of the imposition of another sentence or as a consequence of an increase, or reduction, of the term of the prisoner’s existing sentence, on appeal or otherwise); or

(b)

the prisoner escapes, or attempts to escape; or

(c)

the prisoner does anything that, in the opinion of the prison manager, involves serious misconduct; or

(d)

in the opinion of the prison manager, there is an event, or a change in the prisoner’s circumstances or behaviour, that indicates that the prisoner’s present security classification may be inappropriate.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 17A

Section 47(2): repealed, on 17 December 2016, by section 33 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).

48 Further provisions relating to security classifications

(1)

If a security classification is assigned to a prisoner, or the security classification assigned to a prisoner is changed, the manager of the prison in which the prisoner is detained must ensure that the prisoner is promptly informed in writing of—

(a)

that classification or, as the case may be, that changed classification; and

(b)

the reasons for the assignment of that classification or, as the case may be, that changed classification.

(2)

A prisoner who is dissatisfied with the security classification for the time being assigned to that prisoner may apply to the chief executive for a reconsideration of that classification, and the chief executive must ensure that the security classification is reconsidered promptly in the prescribed manner.

(3)

Despite subsection (2), a prisoner may not make an application under subsection (2) if the security classification that applies to the prisoner was reconsidered, as a consequence of an earlier application under subsection (2), within the previous 6 months.

(4)

Whenever a security classification is assigned to a prisoner or a security classification assigned to a prisoner is reconsidered, the prisoner must be informed in writing of the decision.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 17B

Assessment, use of time, management plans, and programmes

49 Prisoners must be assessed on reception and have needs addressed

(1)

The chief executive must ensure that—

(a)

every prisoner is assessed promptly after reception at a prison to identify any immediate physical or mental health, safety, or security needs; and

(b)

any needs identified by that assessment are addressed.

(2)

The assessment under subsection (1)(a) must include an at-risk assessment to determine whether the prisoner is at risk of self-harm.

Section 49(2): inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 8 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

50 Prisoners’ use of time

The chief executive must ensure that, as far as is practicable, every prisoner is provided with an opportunity to make constructive use of his or her time in prison.

51 Management plans

(1)

This section applies to every prisoner who is—

(a)

sentenced to imprisonment for a term of more than 2 months; or

(b)

in custody for a continuous period of more than 2 months on remand.

(2)

The chief executive must ensure that an individual management plan is devised for every prisoner to whom this section applies.

(3)

Each plan must be prepared, and revised at regular intervals, in accordance with any prescribed requirements and any relevant instructions issued under section 196.

(3A)

A plan may comprise more than 1 document, and those documents may be kept in different physical or electronic locations.

(4)

Each plan must—

(a)

be based on an assessment of the needs, capacities, and disposition of the prisoner; and

(b)

make provision for the safe, secure, and humane containment of the prisoner; and

(c)

outline how the prisoner can make constructive use of his or her time in the prison (including, in the case of a person sentenced to imprisonment, ways of addressing offending behaviour and preventing reoffending); and

(d)

outline how the prisoner may be prepared for eventual release from the prison and successful reintegration into the community; and

(e)

include any prescribed matter or other matter required to be included in the plan by instructions issued under section 196; and

(f)

be consistent with the resources available to the chief executive to manage the prisoner.

Section 51(3A): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 9 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

52 Rehabilitative programmes

The chief executive must ensure that, to the extent consistent with the resources available and any prescribed requirements or instructions issued under section 196, rehabilitative programmes are provided to those prisoners sentenced to imprisonment who, in the opinion of the chief executive, will benefit from those programmes.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 17A(2)

Transfer of prisoners

53 Transfer from one prison to another

(1)

A prisoner may be transferred, on the direction of the chief executive, from any prison to any other prison in which he or she may be lawfully detained.

(2)

A prisoner may be transferred, on the direction of an inspector of corrections, from any prison to any other prison in which he or she may be lawfully detained if the inspector considers it necessary to transfer the prisoner to avoid or reduce any immediate danger to the prisoner or any other person.

(3)

A direction given by an inspector of corrections under subsection (2) may be revoked at any time by the chief executive.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 22; SR 2000/81 r 35(1)

54 Reasons for transfer

(1)

A prisoner may be transferred by the chief executive from one prison to another for 1 or more of the following reasons:

(a)

to assist in reducing the likelihood of reoffending by the prisoner:

(b)

to assist in facilitating the—

(i)

rehabilitation of the prisoner; or

(ii)

reintegration of the prisoner into the community on his or her release:

(c)

to place that prisoner in a prison closer to his or her family:

(d)

to respond to the needs of that prisoner, as identified in the management plan:

(e)

to ensure the safety of that prisoner or any other person:

(f)

to implement a change in the security classification of that prisoner:

(g)

to provide medical or psychiatric care for that prisoner:

(h)

to reduce the risk of self-harm by that prisoner if he or she is identified as being at risk:

(i)

to reduce the risk to that prisoner if he or she is identified as being vulnerable to mistreatment by other prisoners:

(j)

to grant a request by a prisoner for a transfer.

(2)

A prisoner may be transferred by the chief executive from one prison to another in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Act or any regulations made under this Act concerning—

(a)

the separation of convicted prisoners from accused prisoners; or

(b)

the separation of prisoners who are under a specified age from prisoners who are of or over that age.

(3)

A prisoner may be transferred by the chief executive from one prison (the first prison) to another prison—

(a)

to restore or maintain the security and order of the first prison:

(b)

to enable effective management of the national prisoner muster:

(c)

to allow repairs or alterations at the first prison:

(d)

in response to the closure or change of use of the first prison or part of that prison.

(4)

When considering whether to transfer a prisoner for 1 or more of the reasons set out in subsection (1) or when considering how a transfer for 1 or more of the reasons set out in subsection (2) or subsection (3) is to be effected, the chief executive must, as far as is reasonably practicable, have regard to—

(a)

the desirability of providing the least restrictive environment for the prisoner that is consistent with the maintenance of public safety and the safety of staff members and other prisoners; and

(b)

the need to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the prisoner into the community, taking into account the availability and location of appropriate services and programmes that will contribute to the achievement of those objectives; and

(c)

the desirability of ensuring that the prisoner is detained at a location as close as is practicable to his or her family.

(5)

A decision by the chief executive to transfer a prisoner must be made in the prescribed manner.

Compare: SR 2000/81 rr 35(1)(b), 36

55 Information to be given to prisoners

(1)

A prisoner must be—

(a)

informed of an impending transfer, and the destination, at least 7 days in advance; and

(b)

provided with a reasonable opportunity to inform a member of his or her family of the impending transfer, and the destination, before the transfer is made.

(2)

Subsection (1) does not apply if—

(a)

the prisoner to be transferred is expected to create a management difficulty before the transfer is made or as a result of the transfer; or

(b)

the transfer is being made because there are reasonable grounds to believe that the safety of the prisoner or others at the prison within which the prisoner currently resides is at risk; or

(c)

the transfer is being made to restore or maintain the security and order of the prison from which the prisoner is being transferred; or

(d)

the transfer is being made to allow for the effective management of the national prisoner muster; or

(e)

the transfer is being made under section 65(1) or (3) (which relates to removal for judicial purposes).

(3)

A prisoner to whom subsection (2)(a), (b), or (c) applies must, on arrival at the destination, be allowed 1 free phone call within New Zealand to advise a member of his or her family of that destination.

(4)

Subsection (3) does not apply to a prisoner if that prisoner—

(a)

is informed of the impending transfer and the destination; and

(b)

is provided with a reasonable opportunity to inform a member of his or her family of the impending transfer before it is made.

(5)

A prisoner to whom subsection (2)(d) applies must be informed of the transfer before departure and, if the prisoner does not have a reasonable opportunity to inform a member of his or her family before the transfer is made, then, on arrival at the destination, that prisoner must be allowed 1 free phone call within New Zealand to advise a member of his or her family of that destination.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 37

56 Information about reasons for transfer

(1)

A prisoner who is transferred from one prison to another under section 53(1) may ask the manager of the prison from which the prisoner was transferred to specify the reasons for the prisoner’s transfer.

(2)

A request under subsection (1) must—

(a)

be in writing; and

(b)

be forwarded to the manager within 1 month after the prisoner has been transferred to the other prison.

(3)

Reasonably promptly, and in any case no later than 1 month, after receiving a request under subsection (1), the manager must inform the prisoner, in writing, of the reasons for the prisoner’s transfer.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 35(2)–(4)

Denial or restriction of ability to associate

57 Denial or restriction of prisoner’s opportunity to associate with other prisoners

The opportunity of a prisoner to associate with other prisoners must not be denied or restricted, except in accordance with this Act.

Section 57: replaced, on 28 April 2020, by section 10 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

58 Segregation for purpose of security, good order, or safety

(1)

The prison manager may direct that the opportunity of a prisoner to associate with other prisoners be restricted or denied if, in the opinion of the manager,—

(a)

the security or good order of the prison would otherwise be endangered or prejudiced; or

(b)

the safety of another prisoner or another person would otherwise be endangered.

(2)

If a direction is given under subsection (1),—

(a)

the prisoner concerned must promptly be given the reasons in writing for the direction and any subsequent direction under subsection (3)(c):

(b)

the chief executive must promptly be informed of the direction and the reasons for it.

(3)

A direction under subsection (1)—

(a)

must be revoked by the prison manager if there ceases to be any justification, under subsection (1), for continuing to restrict or deny the opportunity of the prisoner to associate with other prisoners:

(b)

may be revoked at any time by the chief executive or a Visiting Justice:

(c)

expires after 14 days unless, before it expires, the chief executive directs that it continue in force:

(d)

if it continues in force because of a direction under paragraph (c), must—

(i)

be reviewed by the chief executive at intervals of not more than 1 month:

(ii)

expire after 3 months unless a Visiting Justice directs that it continue in force:

(e)

if it continues in force because of a direction under paragraph (d)(ii), must be reviewed by a Visiting Justice at intervals of not more than 3 months.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 7(1A)–(1C)

59 Segregation for purpose of protective custody

(1)

The prison manager may direct that the opportunity of a prisoner to associate with other prisoners be restricted or denied if—

(a)

the prisoner requests that his or her opportunity to associate be restricted or denied and the manager considers, having regard to any information supplied by the prisoner or otherwise available to the manager, that it is in the best interests of the prisoner to give that direction; or

(b)

the prison manager is satisfied that—

(i)

the safety of the prisoner has been put at risk by another person; and

(ii)

there is no reasonable way to ensure the safety of the prisoner otherwise than by giving that direction.

(2)

If a direction is given under subsection (1)(a),—

(a)

the direction is ineffective unless, either before or after the giving of the direction, the prisoner concerned gives his or her consent in writing to the giving of the direction:

(b)

the direction ceases to have effect if the prisoner withdraws his or her consent to the giving of the direction, but the prison manager may give a further direction under subsection (1)(b) without that prisoner’s consent if subsection (1)(b) applies.

(3)

If a direction is given under subsection (1)(b),—

(a)

the prisoner concerned must promptly be given the reasons in writing for the direction, and any subsequent direction under subsection (4)(c):

(b)

the chief executive must promptly be informed of the direction and the reasons for it.

(4)

If a direction is given under subsection (1)(b), the direction—

(a)

must be revoked by the prison manager if there ceases to be any justification, under subsection (1)(b), for continuing to restrict or deny the opportunity of the prisoner to associate with other prisoners:

(b)

may be revoked, at any time, by the chief executive:

(c)

expires after 14 days unless, before it expires, the chief executive directs that it continue in force:

(d)

must, if it continues in force because of a direction under paragraph (c), be reviewed by the chief executive at intervals of not more than 3 months.

60 Segregation for purpose of medical oversight

(1)

A prison manager may direct that the opportunity of a prisoner to associate with other prisoners be restricted or denied if the health centre manager of the prison recommends that a direction of this kind is desirable for either or both of the following reasons:

(a)

in order to assess or ensure the prisoner’s physical health, except against the risk of self-harm:

(b)

in order to assess or ensure the prisoner’s mental health.

(1A)

Before a health centre manager makes a recommendation under subsection (1) that relates to a matter outside his or her scope of practice, he or she must consult a medical practitioner whose scope of practice includes that matter.

(2)

If a direction is given under this section,—

(a)

the prisoner concerned must promptly be given the reasons for the direction in writing:

(b)

the chief executive must promptly be informed of the direction and the reasons for it.

(3)

A direction under this section continues in force while the prisoner continues to be detained in the prison unless the prison manager or the chief executive revokes it.

(4)

The prison manager may not revoke a direction under this section unless the health centre manager advises that there has ceased to be any justification, under subsection (1), for continuing to restrict or deny the opportunity of the prisoner to associate with other prisoners.

(5)

While a direction under this section is in force, the health centre manager must, unless he or she is satisfied that it is not necessary in the circumstances, ensure that a registered health professional visits the prisoner concerned at least once a day.

(6)

[Repealed]

Section 60(1): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 14(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 60(1)(a): amended, on 28 April 2020, by section 11(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 60(1)(b): amended, on 28 April 2020, by section 11(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 60(1A): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 14(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 60(4): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 14(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 60(5): replaced, on 28 April 2020, by section 11(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 60(6): repealed, on 28 April 2020, by section 11(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

61 Accommodation to be provided if segregation direction in force

(1)

A prisoner who is subject to a direction under section 58, section 59, or section 60 must be provided with accommodation with prescribed items and features that meets prescribed standards.

(2)

Those items, features, and standards may—

(a)

differ from the items and features provided in, or the standards required to be met for, accommodation for prisoners who are not subject to a direction under section 58, section 59, or section 60:

(b)

differ depending on whether the direction was issued under section 58, section 59, or section 60:

(c)

differ depending on the particular reason for the issue of a direction under any of those sections.

Prisoners at risk of self-harm

Heading: inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 12 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

61A Ongoing assessment for risk of self-harm

A prisoner who has been assessed, in accordance with section 49(2), as not at risk of self-harm or whose at-risk assessment has been revoked must be re-assessed if there are material changes in the prisoner’s circumstances that are relevant to the risk of self-harm.

Section 61A: inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 12 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

61B Initial steps that prison manager and health centre manager must take in respect of at-risk prisoner

The initial steps that must be taken in respect of an at-risk prisoner are—

(a)

the prison manager must ensure that the prisoner is promptly placed in an at-risk cell or alternative accommodation that the prison manager considers adequate to protect the prisoner from self-harm; and

(b)

the prison manager must ensure that the prisoner is observed by an officer at the intervals that the prison manager specifies; and

(c)

the health centre manager must ensure that a registered health professional visits the prisoner at least twice per day (unless the health centre manager is satisfied that it is not necessary in the circumstances).

Section 61B: inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 12 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

61C Confirmation of at-risk prisoner assessment

(1)

The prison manager must, in respect of an at-risk prisoner, obtain the advice of the health centre manager within 24 hours after the prisoner’s at-risk assessment.

(2)

After considering the advice, the prison manager must—

(a)

reverse the at-risk assessment, if the prison manager considers that the prisoner is not at risk of self-harm; or

(b)

confirm the at-risk assessment, if the prison manager considers that the prisoner is at risk of self-harm.

Section 61C: inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 12 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

61D At-risk management plan established

(1)

If a prison manager confirms a prisoner’s at-risk assessment, the prison manager must ensure that an at-risk management plan is established for the prisoner as soon as practicable.

(2)

The plan must be established in consultation with—

(a)

the health centre manager; and

(b)

any other person within or outside the department that the prison manager considers has relevant expertise or knowledge.

Section 61D: inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 12 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

61E Content of at-risk management plan

(1)

An at-risk management plan must specify—

(a)

the restrictions (if any) on the opportunity of the prisoner to associate with other prisoners; and

(b)

the steps to be taken to address the prisoner’s risk of self-harm; and

(c)

the situations in which the prisoner must be strip searched.

(2)

The plan may specify restrictions on the opportunity of the prisoner to associate with other prisoners only to the extent that those restrictions are necessary for the safety of the prisoner or the safety of other prisoners.

(3)

If the plan specifies restrictions on the opportunity of the prisoner to associate with other prisoners, the prison manager must ensure that—

(a)

the prisoner is promptly informed in writing of the reasons for the restrictions; and

(b)

the chief executive is promptly informed in writing of the restrictions and of the reasons for those restrictions.

(4)

The chief executive may, at any time, revoke or modify a restriction on the opportunity of a prisoner to associate with other prisoners and amend the plan accordingly.

(5)

The plan must be revised as necessary at regular intervals, in accordance with any requirements prescribed by regulations made under this Act and any relevant instructions issued under section 196.

Section 61E: inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 12 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

61F Revocation of confirmed at-risk assessment

(1)

The prison manager must revoke the confirmed at-risk assessment of an at-risk prisoner if the prison manager is satisfied, after obtaining the advice of the health centre manager, that the prisoner is no longer at risk of self-harm.

(2)

On the revocation of a prisoner’s at-risk assessment by the prison manager, the at-risk management plan for that prisoner ends.

Section 61F: inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 12 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

61G Health centre manager must consult registered health professional if advice outside scope of practice

A health centre manager must not give advice under section 61C or 61F in relation to a matter that is outside his or her scope of practice, unless the health centre manager has first consulted a registered health professional whose scope of practice includes the matter in question.

Section 61G: inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 12 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

61H Designation of at-risk cell

(1)

The prison manager may designate a cell as an at-risk cell.

(2)

The designation must be in writing and may be revoked at any time.

(3)

An at-risk cell must have items and features, including items and features necessary for the safety of the prisoner, prescribed by regulations made under this Act and must meet prescribed standards.

Section 61H: inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 12 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Temporary release from custody and temporary removal of prisoners

62 Temporary release from custody or temporary removal from prison

(1)

This section applies to every prisoner who is a member of a class of prisoners specified in regulations made under this Act as a class of prisoners who may be—

(a)

temporarily released from custody under this section; or

(b)

temporarily removed from prison under this section while remaining in custody under the control or supervision of an officer, staff member, or probation officer during the period of removal.

(2)

The chief executive may give authority for the temporary release from custody or temporary removal from prison of a prisoner to whom this section applies—

(a)

for any purpose specified in regulations made under this Act that the chief executive considers will facilitate the achievement of 1 or more of the following objectives:

(i)

the rehabilitation of the prisoner and his or her successful reintegration into the community (whether through release to work (including self-employment), to attend programmes, or otherwise):

(ii)

the compassionate or humane treatment of the prisoner or his or her family:

(iii)

furthering the interests of justice; or

(b)

in any circumstances that, in the opinion of the chief executive, are exceptional and that will facilitate the achievement of 1 or more of the objectives described in paragraph (a).

(3)

In exercising the powers conferred by subsection (2), the chief executive must consider—

(a)

whether the release or removal of the prisoner might pose an undue risk to the safety of the community while the prisoner is outside the prison:

(b)

the extent to which the prisoner should be supervised or monitored while outside the prison:

(c)

the benefits to the prisoner and the community of removal or release in facilitating the reintegration of the prisoner into the community:

(d)

whether removal or release would undermine the integrity of any sentence being served by the prisoner.

Compare: 1954 No 51 ss 21(1), 21A(1)–(4), (6), (7)

63 Temporary release from custody

(1)

Any temporary release from custody under section 62 is for a period fixed by the chief executive and may be subject to conditions imposed by the chief executive.

(1A)

The conditions that may be imposed by the chief executive under subsection (1) include, without limitation, a condition requiring the person who is temporarily released from custody to submit to the electronic monitoring of compliance with any temporary release conditions that relate to his or her whereabouts.

(2)

The chief executive or the prison manager may, at any time, direct the return to a prison of any person temporarily released from custody under section 62.

(3)

Every person temporarily released from custody under section 62 is deemed to be unlawfully at large if he or she—

(a)

is at large after the expiry of the period for which he or she was so released; or

(b)

is at large after the giving of a direction for his or her return to a prison under subsection (2); or

(c)

breaches any condition imposed under subsection (1) requiring the person to stay at any place or within any geographical area, to stay with a particular person or group, or to attend a particular programme or course.

(4)

If any person released under this section is at large without reasonable excuse (the proof of which excuse lies on him or her) after the expiry of the period for which he or she was released, after the giving of a direction under subsection (2), or after the person breaches any condition referred to in subsection (3)(c), he or she is deemed to have escaped from lawful custody and is liable accordingly.

Compare: 1954 No 51 ss 21(2)–(5), 21A(2)–(9)

Section 63(1A): inserted, on 22 December 2016, by section 4 of the Corrections (Electronic Monitoring of Offenders) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 45).

64 Temporary removal from prison

(1)

Any temporary removal from prison under section 62—

(a)

is for a period fixed by the chief executive; and

(b)

is subject to the condition that the person removed must be under the control or supervision of an officer, a staff member, or a probation officer during the period of removal; and

(c)

may be subject to any other condition imposed by the chief executive.

(2)

The conditions that may be imposed by the chief executive under subsection (1)(c) include, without limitation, a condition requiring the person who is to be removed to submit to the electronic monitoring of compliance with any temporary removal conditions that relate to his or her whereabouts.

Compare: 1954 No 51 ss 27, 28

Section 64(2): inserted, on 22 December 2016, by section 5 of the Corrections (Electronic Monitoring of Offenders) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 45).

64A Electronic monitoring for persons temporarily released from custody or temporarily removed from prison

(1)

This section applies to electronic monitoring imposed as a condition under section 63 or 64.

(2)

The purposes of an electronic monitoring condition are—

(a)

to deter the person who is subject to electronic monitoring from breaching a condition that relates to his or her whereabouts; and

(b)

to monitor compliance with a condition that relates to his or her whereabouts.

(3)

Information about a person that is obtained through electronic monitoring may be used both for the purposes specified in subsection (2) and for the following purposes:

(a)

to verify compliance with conditions that relate to the whereabouts of the person:

(b)

to detect non-compliance with conditions that relate to the whereabouts of the person and the commission of offences:

(c)

to provide evidence of non-compliance with conditions that relate to the whereabouts of the person and of the commission of offences:

(d)

to verify that the person who is subject to the electronic monitoring condition has not tampered or otherwise interfered with the ability of the electronic monitoring equipment to operate effectively and accurately.

(4)

A person who is subject to an electronic monitoring condition may be required to have electronic monitoring equipment attached to his or her body.

(5)

Where there is evidence indicating that the person who is subject to the electronic monitoring condition may have tampered with or otherwise interfered with the ability of the electronic monitoring equipment to operate effectively and accurately, the person is deemed to be unlawfully at large unless there is evidence that he or she is not unlawfully at large.

Section 64A: inserted, on 22 December 2016, by section 6 of the Corrections (Electronic Monitoring of Offenders) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 45).

65 Removal of prisoner for judicial purposes

(1)

A prisoner may be—

(a)

brought up for trial or sentence (or for any bail application, remand, adjournment, or other ancillary proceeding); and

(b)

removed by or under the direction of the prison manager from one prison to another or from one place of confinement to another for any of these purposes or for the purpose of undergoing sentence.

(2)

Subsection (3) applies if—

(a)

a prisoner is charged with an offence, not being the offence for which the prisoner is in custody; or

(ab)

a prisoner is the subject of an application under Part 1A of the Parole Act 2002 for an extended supervision order; or

(ac)

a prisoner is the subject of an application for a public protection order under the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014; or

(b)

in any other case, the interests of justice require the attendance for judicial purposes of a prisoner.

(3)

If this subsection applies, any court or Judge or Registrar may, by order in writing, direct the manager of the prison in which the prisoner is detained to bring the prisoner, or to ensure that the prisoner is brought, before the court or, as the case may require, to arrange the attendance of the prisoner for those judicial purposes, as often as is necessary, and the manager must obey the order.

(4)

The court or Judge or Registrar making any order under subsection (3) must, if the order is made in a civil proceeding, and may, if it is made in any other proceeding, require any person applying for the order to deposit a sum sufficient to pay the expenses of bringing the prisoner before the court or, as the case may require, arranging the attendance of the prisoner for judicial purposes, and returning the prisoner to the prison in which he or she is required by law to be detained.

(5)

In subsection (4), expenses, in relation to a prisoner, includes the expenses of the prisoner’s maintenance and custody from the time the prisoner leaves the prison until the time he or she returns.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 26(1), (2), (4)

Section 65(1)(a): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

Section 65(2)(ab): inserted, on 7 July 2004, by section 14(4) of the Parole (Extended Supervision) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 67).

Section 65(2)(ab): amended, on 12 December 2014, by section 29(2) of the Parole (Extended Supervision Orders) Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 69).

Section 65(2)(ac): inserted, on 12 December 2014, by section 144 of the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014 (2014 No 68).

Electronic monitoring of prisoners employed in work or accommodated outside secure perimeter

Heading: inserted, on 22 December 2016, by section 7 of the Corrections (Electronic Monitoring of Offenders) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 45).

65A Electronic monitoring of prisoners employed in work or accommodated outside secure perimeter

(1)

This section applies to a prisoner who—

(a)

is employed in work directed or provided by the prison manager under section 66 that is outside the secure perimeter, whether or not it is also outside the prison; or

(b)

is accommodated in a building that is outside the secure perimeter but still within the prison.

(2)

However, this section does not apply to a prisoner who has been temporarily released from custody or temporarily removed from prison under section 62.

(3)

The prison manager may require the prisoner to submit to electronic monitoring of his or her whereabouts while the prisoner is outside the secure perimeter (in this section, an electronic monitoring condition).

(4)

The purposes of an electronic monitoring condition are—

(a)

to deter the prisoner from attempting to escape from lawful custody; and

(b)

to help locate and arrest a prisoner who escapes from lawful custody; and

(c)

to deter and detect the commission of offences against section 128(1)(e).

(5)

Information about a prisoner that is obtained through an electronic monitoring condition may be used both for the purposes in subsection (4) and for the following purposes:

(a)

to verify that the prisoner has not escaped from lawful custody:

(b)

to detect that the prisoner has escaped from lawful custody, and the commission of offences:

(c)

to provide evidence of escape from lawful custody, and the commission of offences:

(d)

to verify that the prisoner has not tampered or otherwise interfered with the ability of the electronic monitoring equipment to operate effectively and accurately.

(6)

A prisoner who is subject to an electronic monitoring condition may be required to have electronic monitoring equipment attached to his or her body.

(7)

Where there is evidence indicating that the prisoner who is subject to the electronic monitoring condition may have tampered with or otherwise interfered with the ability of the electronic monitoring equipment to operate effectively and accurately, the prisoner is deemed to be unlawfully at large unless there is evidence that he or she is not unlawfully at large.

Section 65A: inserted, on 22 December 2016, by section 7 of the Corrections (Electronic Monitoring of Offenders) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 45).

Work and earnings

66 Work and earnings

(1)

Every prisoner (other than a prisoner who is only awaiting trial or on remand or who is detained under the Immigration Act 2009) may, while in custody,—

(a)

be employed in any work that is directed or provided by the prison manager; and

(b)

be employed in that work outside the prison in which he or she is detained.

(2)

A prisoner who is detained only because he or she is awaiting trial or on remand or who is detained under the Immigration Act 2009 may be employed under this section if he or she asks to be employed.

(3)

Earnings at a rate or rates approved by the Minister may be—

(a)

credited to each prisoner employed under this section; or

(b)

applied or paid in accordance with regulations made under this Act; or

(c)

dealt with under both paragraphs (a) and (b).

(4)

The manager of a prison in which any industry provides work under this section to prisoners in that prison must ensure that, in the operation of that industry, there are adopted only those accounting methods that are from time to time approved by the chief executive.

(5)

Prisoners may—

(a)

be employed under this section only in work of a kind described in subsection (6) that is approved by the chief executive and under the conditions approved by the chief executive; and

(b)

only be directed, under subsection (1)(a), to perform work of a kind specified in subsection (6)(b).

(6)

The work referred to in subsection (5) is work that is—

(a)

intended to provide the prisoner with work experience or to assist his or her rehabilitation or reintegration into the community; or

(b)

intended to reduce the costs of keeping prisoners in custody (for example, cooking, cleaning, and maintenance within the prison or any other prison).

(7)

Any work in which a prisoner is employed under this section must be carried out in accordance with any prescribed requirements.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 20

Section 66(1): amended, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

Section 66(2): amended, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

66A Self-employment

(1)

Every prisoner (other than a prisoner who is only awaiting trial or on remand or who is detained under the Immigration Act 2009) may, subject to the prison manager’s approval, be self-employed while in custody and be employed in that work within the prison or outside the prison in which he or she is detained.

(2)

The prison manager must not approve a prisoner to be self-employed under this section unless the work—

(a)

is of a kind described in subsection (3) that is approved by the chief executive; and

(b)

is done under the conditions approved by the chief executive.

(3)

The work referred to in subsection (2) is work that is intended to provide the prisoner with work experience or to assist his or her rehabilitation or reintegration into the community.

(4)

Any work in which a prisoner is employed under this section must be carried out in accordance with any prescribed requirements.

Section 66A: inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 15 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

67 Earnings of employed prisoner

(1)

The net amount of wages or salary payable to any prisoner for work done by the prisoner during any period or periods for which the prisoner is temporarily released from custody under section 62 must be paid to the chief executive by the prisoner’s employer, in any manner that is agreed between the chief executive and the employer, to the credit of the prisoner.

(2)

Every prisoner described in subsection (4) must pay to the chief executive to the credit of the prisoner, at the times that the chief executive directs, those sums on account of his or her earnings in that employment that the chief executive determines.

(3)

A person who receives money on behalf of a prisoner engaged in self-employment must, after deducting any commission, pay to the chief executive to the credit of the prisoner, those sums on account of the prisoner’s earnings in that employment that the chief executive determines.

(4)

Subsections (2) and (3) apply to a prisoner who is—

(a)

temporarily released from custody under section 62 to engage in self-employment; or

(b)

engaged in self-employment at the prison.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21C(1), (3)

Section 67(2): replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 16 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 67(3): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 16 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 67(4): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 16 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

68 Application of money

Any money paid to the chief executive under section 67 to the credit of a prisoner must be applied by the chief executive, in any proportions that the chief executive considers appropriate, in payment of all or any of the following:

(a)

any expenses incidental to the prisoner’s employment or self-employment outside the prison:

(b)

the cost of the prisoner’s detention for each week during which he or she is allowed, at any time, to engage in employment or self-employment outside the prison in accordance with a direction under section 62 authorising the prisoner’s temporary release from custody, but not exceeding the weekly rate fixed by the Minister:

(ba)

the cost of the prisoner’s detention for each week during which he or she is allowed, at any time, to engage in self-employment while in the custody of the chief executive, but not exceeding the weekly rate fixed by the Minister:

(c)

the maintenance of any of the prisoner’s dependants:

(d)

the prisoner’s requirements on his or her release from the sentence under which the prisoner is detained:

(e)

any fine or reparation or other sum of money that the prisoner was ordered to pay on his or her conviction for any offence:

(f)

the satisfaction in whole or in part of any judgment debt owing by the prisoner or of any other debt acknowledged in writing by the prisoner as owing by him or her:

(g)

the purchase by the prisoner of any article of a type approved for the time being by the chief executive.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21C(4)

Section 68(a): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 17(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 68(b): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 17(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 68(ba): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 17(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Minimum entitlements

69 Minimum entitlements

(1)

Every prisoner has the following minimum entitlements:

(a)

physical exercise, as provided for in section 70:

(b)

a bed and bedding, as provided for in section 71:

(c)

food and drink, as provided for in section 72:

(d)

access to private visitors, as provided for in section 73:

(e)

access to statutory visitors and specified visitors:

(f)

access to legal advisers, as provided for in section 74:

(g)

to receive medical treatment, as provided for in section 75:

(h)

to send and receive mail, as provided for in section 76:

(i)

to make outgoing telephone calls, as provided for in section 77(3):

(j)

to exercise any right conferred on prisoners by regulations made under this Act to communicate using any specified device or medium of communication:

(k)

access to information and education, as provided for in section 78.

(2)

A prisoner may be denied, for a period of time that is reasonable in the circumstances, 1 or more of the minimum entitlements set out in subsection (1) if—

(a)

there is an emergency in the prison; or

(b)

the security of the prison is threatened; or

(c)

the health or safety of any person is threatened.

(3)

A prisoner detained in a Police jail may be denied 1 or more of the minimum entitlements set out in subsection (1) (other than the entitlements referred to in subsection (1)(b), (c), (f), and (g), and the entitlement under subsection (1)(e) of access to statutory visitors) if, in the opinion of the prison manager or other person in charge, it is not practicable to provide those entitlements, having regard to the facilities available at the Police jail and the resources available.

(4)

A prisoner—

(aa)

may be denied, for not more than 2 consecutive days at a time, the minimum entitlement referred to in subsection (1)(a) if—

(i)

the prisoner has been temporarily released from custody or temporarily removed from prison under section 62 or removed for judicial purposes under section 65; and

(ii)

in the opinion of the prison manager, it is not practicable to provide the entitlement during the times the prisoner is in the prison:

(a)

may be denied the minimum entitlements referred to in subsection (1)(d), (i), (j), and (k) if the prisoner is undergoing a penalty of cell confinement imposed under subpart 5 of Part 2:

(b)

may be denied the minimum entitlement referred to in subsection (1)(k) if a direction under section 58 or 59 is in force and the prison manager considers that the prisoner is likely to damage prison property.

(5)

The minimum entitlements conferred by subsection (1) are not privileges referred to in section 43(3)(a)(i), section 133(3)(a), or section 137(3)(a).

(6)

Subsections (2), (3), and (4) override sections 70 to 78.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 42

Section 69(4)(aa): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 18 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Exercise

70 Exercise

(1)

Every prisoner (other than a prisoner who is engaged in outdoor work) may, on a daily basis, take at least 1 hour of physical exercise.

(2)

The physical exercise referred to in subsection (1) may be taken by the prisoner in the open air if the weather permits.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 49

Bedding

71 Bedding

(1)

Every prisoner must be provided with a separate bed, and sufficient bedding for warmth, health, and reasonable comfort.

(2)

A prisoner’s bedding must be laundered as often as is necessary to maintain cleanliness.

(3)

All bedding must be laundered before it is reissued to another prisoner.

(4)

In this section,—

bed includes a mattress

bedding does not include a mattress.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 53

Diet

72 Diet

(1)

Every prisoner must be provided with a sufficient quantity of wholesome food and drink based on the food and nutritional guidelines for the time being issued by the Ministry of Health, and drinking water must be made available to every prisoner whenever he or she needs it.

(2)

As far as practicable in the circumstances, in providing food and drink to prisoners, allowance must be made for the various religious, spiritual, and cultural needs of the prisoners.

(3)

A medical officer or health centre manager may prescribe a particular diet for a particular prisoner.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 56

Section 72(1): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 19(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 72(3): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 19(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Visiting

73 Entitlement to private visitors

(1)

A prisoner is entitled to receive at least 1 private visitor each week for a minimum duration of 30 minutes.

(2)

Subsection (1) is subject to any regulations made under this Act that regulate the visiting of prisoners, and to directions given under section 168A (no-contact conditions if family violence offence defendant remanded in custody) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011.

(3)

Subsection (1) does not limit visits to a prisoner—

(a)

by his or her legal adviser under section 74; or

(b)

by a statutory visitor who is authorised by any enactment to visit the prisoner or by a specified visitor; or

(c)

by any person or class of person authorised by regulations made under this Act to visit the prisoner at more frequent intervals.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 82

Section 73(2): amended, on 1 July 2019, by section 49 of the Family Violence (Amendments) Act 2018 (2018 No 47).

74 Legal adviser may visit prisoner

(1)

The legal adviser of a prisoner may visit the prisoner at any time agreed to by the prison manager if the purpose of the visit is to discuss the prisoner’s legal affairs.

(2)

If the manager does not agree to a particular time for a visit by a legal adviser, the manager must nominate an alternative time that is reasonable in the circumstances.

(3)

An interview between a legal adviser, and a prisoner—

(a)

must be held out of the hearing of any other person; and

(b)

may, with the agreement of the prison manager, be held out of the sight of any other person.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 85

Medical treatment and health care

75 Medical treatment and standard of health care

(1)

A prisoner is entitled to receive medical treatment that is reasonably necessary.

(2)

The standard of health care that is available to prisoners in a prison must be reasonably equivalent to the standard of health care available to the public.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 58

Mail to and from prisoners

76 Prisoners may send and receive mail

(1)

A prisoner may send and receive as much mail as the prisoner wishes.

(2)

Subsection (1) is subject to—

(a)

sections 105 and 108 of this Act, and directions given under section 168A (no-contact conditions if family violence offence defendant remanded in custody) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011; and

(b)

any restrictions relating to the manner in which mail is received or sent, the provision of materials for writing letters, and the payment of postage contained in regulations made under this Act.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 97(1)

Section 76(2)(a): amended, on 1 July 2019, by section 50 of the Family Violence (Amendments) Act 2018 (2018 No 47).

Telephone calls

77 Outgoing telephone calls

(1)

The chief executive must ensure that every corrections prison has telephone facilities for prisoners to make outgoing telephone calls.

(2)

The Commissioner of Police must ensure that every Police jail has telephone facilities for prisoners to make outgoing telephone calls.

(3)

Every prisoner is entitled to make at least 1 outgoing telephone call of up to 5 minutes’ duration per week.

(4)

The entitlement in subsection (3) is in addition to any telephone call made to—

(a)

an official agency; or

(b)

the prisoner’s legal adviser.

(4A)

The entitlement in subsection (3) is overridden by directions given under section 168A (no-contact conditions if family violence offence defendant remanded in custody) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011.

(5)

The chief executive (in the case of a corrections prison) or the Commissioner of Police (in the case of a Police jail) may impose conditions on, and maintain records of, the use of telephone facilities by prisoners.

(6)

Every prisoner who makes an outgoing telephone call may be required to—

(a)

meet the cost of the call; or

(b)

pay a fee set by the chief executive.

(7)

Despite subsection (6), a prisoner is not required to meet the cost of an outgoing telephone call or to pay a fee if this Act, or any regulations made under this Act, provides otherwise.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 107

Section 77(4A): inserted, on 1 July 2019, by section 51 of the Family Violence (Amendments) Act 2018 (2018 No 47).

Section 77(6): replaced, on 29 October 2019, by section 13 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 77(7): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 13 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

78 Information and education needs of prisoners

(1)

A prisoner is entitled—

(a)

to reasonable access to news:

(b)

so far as is practicable, to access to library services:

(c)

to access to further education that, in the opinion of the prison manager, will assist in—

(i)

his or her rehabilitation; or

(ii)

a reduction in his or her reoffending; or

(iii)

his or her reintegration into the community.

(2)

The Crown is not required to provide a prisoner with any of the education referred to in subsection (1)(c) free of charge unless—

(a)

there is an entitlement to receive that education free of charge (whether under the Education and Training Act 2020 or under another enactment); or

(b)

the education is—

(i)

provided to a prisoner with poor literacy skills; and

(ii)

designed to improve those skills.

Section 78(2)(a): amended, on 1 August 2020, by section 668 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (2020 No 38).

Other duties in relation to prisoners

79 Religious and spiritual needs

(1)

The chief executive must ensure that in every corrections prison, so far as is reasonable and practicable, appropriate provision is made for the various religious and spiritual needs of prisoners.

(2)

No prisoner may be required to receive a visit from a minister of religion if the prisoner objects to that visit.

(3)

Section 129(a) does not apply to a prisoner who, during a religious service (whether inside or outside a prison),—

(a)

consumes a small quantity of wine provided at the service by a prison chaplain or minister of religion for the purposes of the Eucharist, Holy Communion, Mass, or Communion, with the express authority of the prison manager or chief executive; or

(b)

consumes a small quantity of wine or other alcohol provided at the service as part of the ritual of the religion in question, by the person conducting the service, with the express authority of the prison manager or chief executive.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 45

Section 79(3): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

80 Needs relating to particular cultures

The chief executive must ensure that in every corrections prison, so far as is reasonable and practicable, appropriate provision is made for the various needs of prisoners arising because they belong to a particular culture.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 46

81 Working conditions

(1)

Unless there is an emergency, no prisoner may be required to work on a certain day if working on that day would be inconsistent with the prisoner’s genuine religious beliefs or practices.

(2)

No prisoner may be required to work for more than 40 hours per week.

(3)

Every prisoner is entitled to 1 day of rest in each week.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 47

81A Request and approval for placement of child with mother

(1)

A female prisoner who is the mother of a child less than 24 months old, or who is expecting a child, may request the chief executive’s approval to keep the child with her until the day after the date on which the child turns 24 months if she—

(a)

was the child’s primary caregiver before being imprisoned or is likely to be the child’s primary caregiver on release; and

(b)

does not have a conviction for an offence involving sexual or violent offending against children; and

(c)

agrees to undergo screening for the purposes of identifying any mental health and substance abuse issues.

(2)

The chief executive may approve a request under subsection (1) if—

(a)

the chief executive is satisfied that the mother meets the criteria set out in subsection (1); and

(b)

the chief executive considers that placing the child with the mother—

(i)

is in the best interests of the child; and

(ii)

is not inconsistent with any court order relating to the child or any application or proceeding before the court (whether pending or existing) relating to the child; and

(c)

the mother enters into a parenting agreement under section 81B with the chief executive in relation to the child’s placement; and

(d)

the chief executive is satisfied that there are appropriate facilities available to accommodate the child’s placement.

(3)

In considering whether placing the child with the mother is in the best interests of the child, the chief executive must have regard to the principles in section 5 of the Care of Children Act 2004 to the extent that those principles are relevant.

(4)

The chief executive must—

(a)

consult the chief executive of the department responsible for administering the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 before deciding whether to approve a child’s placement; and

(b)

seek the advice of a child development specialist before deciding whether to approve or end a child’s placement, unless it is clear from the circumstances that it is not necessary to seek that advice.

(5)

The chief executive may end the child’s placement if the chief executive considers that—

(a)

subsection (2)(b)(i) or (ii) is not being met; or

(b)

the mother’s responsibilities under the parenting agreement are not being met.

(5A)

If the chief executive refuses approval for a child’s placement under subsection (1), or ends a placement under subsection (5), the chief executive must—

(a)

provide reasons for the decision; and

(b)

notify the prisoner in writing of the decision and the process for reconsideration of the decision.

(6)

In this section and sections 81AB to 81C, unless the context otherwise requires, child’s placement or placement means the placement of a child with his or her mother in prison in accordance with this section.

Section 81A: inserted, on 19 September 2011, by section 5 of the Corrections (Mothers with Babies) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 88).

Section 81A(4)(a): amended, on 14 July 2017, by section 149 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 31).

Section 81A(5A): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 14(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 81A(6): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 14(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

81AB Reconsideration of decision relating to child’s placement

(1)

At the request of the prisoner, the chief executive must reconsider a decision (the decision) under section 81A—

(a)

refusing approval for the child’s placement (see section 81A(2)); or

(b)

ending the child’s placement (see section 81A(5)).

(2)

A request for reconsideration must be made within 14 days after the prisoner has been notified in writing of the decision.

(3)

The chief executive must reconsider the decision against the relevant criteria set out in section 81A, except that the chief executive is not required to repeat the steps set out in section 81A(4).

(4)

A decision is not suspended while it is being reconsidered.

(5)

On reconsideration of the decision, the chief executive may do any of the following:

(a)

affirm it:

(b)

amend it:

(c)

rescind it and substitute a different decision.

(6)

The chief executive must—

(a)

provide reasons for the outcome under subsection (5); and

(b)

notify the prisoner in writing of the outcome.

Section 81AB: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 15 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

81B Parenting agreements

A parenting agreement to which section 81A(2)(c) relates must include, without limitation, all of the following:

(a)

notice that the mother is responsible for the care of her child while the child is in prison:

(b)

identification of an alternative caregiver who will care for the child when the placement ends or in an emergency:

(c)

the chief executive’s agreement to—

(i)

provide parenting information, education, and support to the mother; and

(ii)

attend to arrangements for the child to receive any necessary health and well-being checks and any treatment required as a result of those checks; and

(iii)

facilitate the mother’s access to any treatment or counselling required to support the mother to care for her child:

(d)

for the purpose of ensuring that the best interests of the child are met, the mother’s agreement to—

(i)

attend any parenting education programmes specified; and

(ii)

facilitate arrangements for the child to receive any necessary health and well-being checks and any treatment required as a result of those checks; and

(iii)

participate in any treatment or counselling required to address any mental health or substance abuse issues identified; and

(iv)

attend any programmes identified in her management plan; and

(v)

co-operate in a planned separation from the child when the placement ends.

Section 81B: inserted, on 19 September 2011, by section 5 of the Corrections (Mothers with Babies) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 88).

81C Accommodation and feeding of children placed with their mothers

(1)

The chief executive must ensure that, to the extent practicable within the resources available, every prison in which female prisoners are imprisoned provides appropriate facilities for the accommodation of children under the age of 24 months, and that those facilities support the development needs of those children.

(2)

The chief executive must ensure that every child who is placed with his or her mother in prison is,—

(a)

if the child is breastfed, provided sufficient opportunity to be breastfed; and

(b)

if the child is fed by other means, provided sufficient opportunity to be fed.

Section 81C: inserted, on 19 September 2011, by section 5 of the Corrections (Mothers with Babies) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 88).

Living conditions

82 Accommodation generally

(1)

The chief executive must ensure that each type of accommodation provided in a corrections prison complies with all requirements in regulations made under this Act concerning—

(a)

the items and facilities to be included in, or excluded from, accommodation of that type; and

(b)

the standards to be met by accommodation of that type.

(2)

This section does not apply to accommodation to which section 61 applies.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 50

82A Types of permitted accommodation

Subject to any restrictions set out in this Act or regulations made under this Act, a prisoner may be accommodated in an individual cell, a shared cell, or a self-care unit.

Section 82A: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 16 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

82B No legitimate expectation as to conditions, etc

(1)

To avoid doubt, a prisoner does not have any legitimate expectation of—

(a)

being accommodated in, or of being provided with, the same or similar conditions during the whole term of his or her sentence, period of remand, or other period of detention; or

(b)

being provided with the same or similar programmes or opportunities during the whole term of his or her sentence, period of remand, or other period of detention.

(2)

Subsection (1) does not affect any entitlement conferred on a prisoner by this Act or regulations made under it.

Section 82B: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 16 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Subpart 4—Coercive powers

Use of force and restraints, and related matters

83 Use of force

(1)

No officer or staff member may use physical force in dealing with any prisoner unless the officer or staff member has reasonable grounds for believing that the use of physical force is reasonably necessary—

(a)

in self-defence, in the defence of another person, or to protect the prisoner from injury; or

(b)

in the case of an escape or attempted escape (including the recapture of any person who is fleeing after escape); or

(c)

in the case of an officer,—

(i)

to prevent the prisoner from damaging any property; or

(ii)

in the case of active or passive resistance to a lawful order.

(2)

An officer or staff member who uses physical force for any of the purposes or in any of the circumstances referred to in subsection (1) may not use any more physical force than is reasonably necessary in the circumstances.

(3)

If an officer or staff member uses physical force in dealing with any prisoner, the prisoner must, as soon as practicable after the application of that force, be examined by a registered health professional, unless that application of force is limited to the use of handcuffs of a kind that have been authorised for use as a mechanical restraint.

(4)

Nothing in this section limits or affects any other provision in this Act or any other enactment that authorises an officer or staff member to use physical force, or any provision of the Crimes Act 1961, or any rule of law, that makes any specified circumstances—

(a)

a justification or excuse for the use of force; or

(b)

a defence to a charge involving the use of force.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 17C

Section 83(3): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 20 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

84 Provoking prisoners

(1)

No officer or staff member may deliberately act or speak in a manner likely to provoke a prisoner.

(2)

To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not prevent an officer or staff member from issuing any lawful order to a prisoner or providing any information to a prisoner or otherwise carrying out his or her duties.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 17D

85 Use of non-lethal weapons

(1)

In any situation described in section 83(1) or in any other situation where an officer or staff member is authorised by any other provision in this Act or any other enactment to use physical force, any officer or staff member may, if necessary, use any kind of non-lethal weapon prescribed for use.

(2)

The use of a non-lethal weapon by an officer or a staff member—

(a)

is subject to any conditions or restrictions specified in regulations made under this Act; and

(b)

must, if the weapon is used in any situation described in section 83(1), be in accordance with section 83(2).

(3)

Regulations may not be made authorising the use of any kind of non-lethal weapon unless the Minister is satisfied that—

(a)

the use of that kind of weapon is compatible with the humane treatment of prisoners; and

(b)

the potential benefits from the use of the weapon outweigh the potential risks.

(4)

In this section, non-lethal weapon means any weapon designed—

(a)

to temporarily disable a person against whom it is used; or

(b)

to incapacitate a person against whom it is used.

(5)

This section does not limit the powers of a constable under any other enactment.

Section 85(5): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

86 Possession, carriage, and use of firearms restricted

(1)

No officer or staff member may possess, carry, or use any firearm within a prison except as provided under subsection (3).

(2)

This section does not limit the powers of a constable under any other enactment.

(3)

The chief executive may, in writing, authorise an officer or staff member to possess, carry, or use a firearm (other than a prohibited firearm) within a prison, but only in a specified area of the prison for 1 or more of the following purposes:

(a)

for the purpose of any specified prison industry:

(b)

for the purpose of humanely killing sick or injured animals:

(c)

for the purpose of pest control.

(4)

If subsection (3) applies, a firearm—

(a)

may only be used by an officer or staff member who holds a current firearms licence under section 24 of the Arms Act 1983 and in accordance with that Act; and

(b)

must not be used while prisoners are present; and

(c)

must not be stored in a prison.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 19B

Section 86 heading: amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 7(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 86(1): replaced, on 3 April 2009, by section 7(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 86(2): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 86(3): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 7(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 86(3): amended, on 12 April 2019, by section 73 of the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 12).

Section 86(4): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 7(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

87 Restraint of prisoners

(1)

In any situation described in section 83(1) or in any other prescribed circumstances, any officer or staff member may, if necessary, apply any kind of mechanical restraint prescribed for use.

(2)

The use of a mechanical restraint by an officer or staff member—

(a)

is subject to any conditions or restrictions specified in regulations made under this Act; and

(b)

must, if the restraint is used in any situation described in section 83(1), be in accordance with section 83(2).

(3)

Regulations may not be made authorising the use of any kind of mechanical restraint unless the Minister is satisfied that—

(a)

the use of that kind of restraint is compatible with the humane treatment of prisoners; and

(b)

the potential benefits from the use of the restraint outweigh the potential risks.

(4)

A mechanical restraint—

(a)

may not be used for any disciplinary purpose:

(b)

must be used in a manner that minimises harm and discomfort to the prisoner.

(5)

A mechanical restraint must not be used on a prisoner for more than 24 hours at a time unless the use of the restraint for more than 24 hours—

(a)

is authorised by the prison manager and is, in the opinion of a medical officer, necessary to protect the prisoner from self-harm; or

(b)

is, in the case of a prisoner who has been temporarily removed to a hospital outside the prison for treatment, necessary to prevent the escape of the prisoner or to maintain public safety.

(5A)

An authorisation under subsection (5)(a) must—

(a)

be in writing; and

(b)

specify the type of restraint to be used; and

(c)

specify the time during which the prisoner is to be kept under restraint; and

(d)

include a record of the medical officer’s opinion that the restraint is necessary to protect the prisoner from self-harm.

(6)

Despite subsections (1) to (5), chains or irons must not be fitted or attached to a prisoner in any circumstances.

(7)

In subsection (6), chains or irons does not include handcuffs.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 19

Section 87(5): replaced, on 29 October 2019, by section 17(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 87(5A): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 21 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 87(5A): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 17(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 87(6): replaced, on 29 October 2019, by section 17(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 87(7): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 17(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

88 Reporting on use of force, weapons, and mechanical restraints

Particulars of the use of force, non-lethal weapons, and mechanical restraints must, wherever required by regulations made under this Act,—

(a)

be recorded; and

(b)

be given by notice in writing to the chief executive and to any other person or persons specified in those regulations.

Searching of prisoners and other persons

89 Definition of rub-down search

(1)

For the purposes of this Act, a rub-down search means a search of a clothed person in which the person conducting the search may do all or any of the following:

(a)

run or pat his or her hand over the body of the person being searched, whether outside or inside the clothing (other than any underclothing) of that person:

(b)

insert his or her hand inside any pocket or pouch in the clothing (other than any underclothing) of the person being searched:

(c)

for the purpose of permitting a visual inspection, require the person being searched to do all or any of the following, namely—

(i)

open his or her mouth:

(ii)

display the palms of his or her hands:

(iii)

display the soles of his or her feet:

(iv)

lift or rub his or her hair.

(2)

For the purpose of facilitating any of the actions referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1), the person conducting a rub-down search may require the person being searched—

(a)

to remove, raise, lower, or open any outer clothing (including (without limitation) any coat, jacket, jumper, or cardigan) being worn by the person being searched, except where that person has no other clothing, or only underclothing, under that outer clothing; and

(b)

to remove any head covering, gloves, or footwear (including socks or stockings) being worn by that person.

(3)

Authority to conduct a rub-down search includes the authority to conduct a visual examination (whether or not facilitated by any instrument or device designed to illuminate or magnify) of the mouth, nose, and ears, but does not authorise the insertion of any instrument, device, or thing into any orifice of those kinds.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21D

90 Definition of strip search

(1)

For the purposes of this Act, a strip search means a search where the person conducting the search may require the person being searched to remove, raise, lower, or open all or any of that latter person’s clothing.

(2)

For the purpose of facilitating a strip search, the person conducting the search may require the person being searched to do all or any of the following:

(a)

open his or her mouth:

(b)

display the palms of his or her hands:

(c)

display the soles of his or her feet:

(d)

lift or rub his or her hair:

(e)

raise his or her arms to expose his or her armpits:

(f)

with his or her legs spread apart, bend his or her knees until his or her buttocks are adjacent to his or her heels:

(g)

lift or raise any part of his or her body (including, for example, rolls of fat, genitalia, and breasts).

(3)

Authority to conduct a strip search—

(a)

includes the authority to conduct a visual examination (whether or not facilitated by any instrument or device designed to illuminate or magnify) of the mouth, nose, ears, and anal and genital areas; but

(b)

does not authorise the insertion of any instrument, device, or thing into any orifice of those kinds.

(4)

[Repealed]

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21E

Section 90(2)(f): replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 22(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 90(2)(g): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 8(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 90(3): replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 22(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 90(4): repealed, on 4 June 2013, by section 22(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

91 Definition of scanner search for purposes of Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014

For the purposes of the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014, a scanner search means a search of a person while he or she is fully clothed using an electronic device designed to identify the presence of unauthorised items.

Section 91 heading: amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 18(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 91: amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 18(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

92 Definition of x-ray search for purposes of Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014

(1)

For the purposes of the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014, an x-ray search means the search of a fully or partially clothed person using an x-ray machine or other prescribed device that is designed to identify the presence of items that are internally concealed.

(2)

For the purpose of facilitating an x-ray search under that Act, the person conducting the search may require the person being searched to—

(a)

remove any item of clothing that needs to be removed in order to carry out the search:

(b)

comply with any other procedure that needs to be undertaken to carry out the search.

Section 92 heading: amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 19(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 92(1): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 19(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 92(2): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 19(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

92A Meaning of scanner search for purposes of this Act

(1)

For the purposes of this Act, scanner search means a search of a person and the person’s clothing or possessions using an electronic device (whether or not the device uses imaging technology) designed to identify the presence of unauthorised items that are concealed—

(a)

in a person’s body:

(b)

beneath or within clothing or possessions.

(2)

For the purpose of facilitating a scanner search under this Act, the person conducting the search may require the person being searched to—

(a)

remove any item of outer clothing (including, without limitation, any jacket, jumper, or sweatshirt) that needs to be removed in order to carry out the search, except where the person being searched has no other clothing, or only underclothing, under that outer clothing:

(b)

remove any head covering, gloves, footwear (including socks or stockings), belts, jewellery, or other accessories:

(c)

comply with any other procedure that needs to be undertaken to carry out the search.

Section 92A: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 20 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

92B Meaning of imaging technology search

For the purposes of this Act, imaging technology search—

(a)

means a scanner search that produces an image of the body or part of the body (whether external or internal) of the person being searched; and

(b)

includes, without limitation, a search using an x-ray machine or a body scanner.

Section 92B: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 20 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

92C Particular matters relating to imaging technology searches

(1)

An image produced as a result of an imaging technology search must,—

(a)

so far as practicable, avoid showing a clear image of the body beneath clothing; and

(b)

obscure the genitals or make them not easily distinguishable if they are included in the image.

(2)

An image produced as a result of an imaging technology search must be retained only as long as is necessary to determine the presence of an unauthorised item.

(3)

Despite anything to the contrary in another enactment, a person who conducts an imaging technology search must not, without reasonable excuse, photograph or copy the image or provide the image to another person.

Section 92C: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 20 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

92D Particular restrictions when imaging technology search used as alternative to strip search

(1)

The restrictions in section 92C(1) do not apply where an imaging technology search is used as an alternative to a strip search under section 98(9).

(2)

However, an image that is produced using imaging technology—

(a)

may be viewed only by an officer or a constable of the same sex as the person who is searched; and

(b)

may not be viewed by another prisoner.

Section 92D: inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 20 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

93 Restrictions on internal examinations

Nothing in this Act authorises or permits the internal examination of any body orifice of any person by any officer, except as provided by sections 89, 90, and 92B.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21F

Section 93: amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 21 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

94 Restrictions on searches

(1)

The following searches may be carried out only by a person of the same sex as the person to be searched:

(a)

a rub-down search:

(b)

a strip search:

(c)

an imaging technology search that is used as an alternative to a strip search under section 98(9).

(1A)

A strip search must not be carried out in view of any person who is not of the same sex as the person to be searched.

(2)

A person who carries out a scanner search, rub-down search, or strip search must conduct the search with decency and sensitivity and in a manner that affords to the person being searched the greatest degree of privacy and dignity consistent with the purpose of the search.

(3)

No officer may conduct a strip search unless one of the following persons is also present:

(a)

another officer:

(b)

a constable.

(4)

A strip search of a prisoner must not be carried out in view of another prisoner.

(5)

No officer may conduct a rub-down search of any person (other than a prisoner) unless one of the following persons is also present:

(a)

another officer:

(b)

a constable.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21G

Section 94(1): replaced, on 29 October 2019, by section 22(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 94(1A): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 22(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 94(2): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 22(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 94(3)(b): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 94(5)(b): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

95 Authority to detain for purposes of search

Authority conferred by this Act to search any person includes the authority to detain that person for the purposes of the search.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21H

96 Authority to search property

(1)

Authority conferred by this Act to conduct a scanner search of any person includes the authority to search—

(a)

any item carried by, or in the possession of, that person:

(b)

any outer clothing removed for the purposes of the search:

(c)

any head covering, gloves, footwear (including socks or stockings), belts, jewellery, or other accessories removed for the purposes of the search.

(2)

Authority conferred by this Act to conduct a rub-down search of any person includes the authority to search—

(a)

any item carried by, or in the possession of, that person:

(b)

any outer clothing removed, raised, lowered, or opened for the purposes of the search:

(c)

any head covering, gloves, or footwear (including socks or stockings) removed for the purposes of the search.

(3)

Authority conferred by this Act to conduct a strip search of any prisoner includes the authority to search—

(a)

any item of clothing removed, raised, lowered, or opened for the purposes of the search:

(b)

any item carried by, or in the possession of, that prisoner.

(4)

Authority conferred by this Act to conduct a search of any cell or any place set aside for the exclusive use of a person in a prison includes the authority to search any item in that cell or place.

(5)

Authority conferred by this Act to conduct a search of any vehicle includes the authority to search any item in that vehicle.

(6)

Authority conferred by this Act to search any item includes the authority to use any force that is reasonable in the circumstances for the purpose of breaking open that item.

(7)

Authority to search any cell or other place, vehicle, or item, includes the authority to use an aid or aids such as a chemical substance or imaging equipment or some other mechanical, electrical, or electronic device, or other similar aid.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21I

Section 96(1): replaced, on 29 October 2019, by section 23(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 96(3): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 23(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 96(7): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 9 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 96(7): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 23(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

97 Use of dogs for searching

(1)

In exercising any power of search conferred by this Act, any officer may have with him or her, and use for the purposes of searching, any dog.

(2)

Any dog used for searching may be under the control of—

(a)

the officer conducting the search; or

(b)

any other person (being a constable, an officer of Customs, or any member of the Armed Forces) who may accompany the officer for the purposes of the search.

(3)

While any officer is using a dog for the purposes of searching any person, the officer who has control of the dog must take reasonable steps to prevent the dog from coming into physical contact with the person being searched.

(4)

Any officer who uses a dog for the purposes of searching any person must conduct the search with decency and sensitivity and in a manner that affords to the person being searched the greatest degree of dignity consistent with the purpose of the search.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21J

Section 97(2)(b): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 97(3): replaced, on 29 October 2019, by section 24 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

98 Search of prisoners and cells

(1)

An officer may, at any time, for the purpose of detecting any unauthorised item, conduct—

(a)

a scanner search of any prisoner:

(b)

a rub-down search of any prisoner:

(c)

a search of any cell in a prison.

(2)

Nothing in subsection (1)(c) limits or affects any power or authority to search or inspect any cell in any prison for any purpose relating to the security of the prison.

(3)

An officer may conduct a strip search of a prisoner—

(a)

if the officer—

(i)

has reasonable grounds for believing that the prisoner has in his or her possession an unauthorised item; and

(ii)

has obtained the manager’s approval to the conduct of a strip search; or

(b)

in the situations referred to in subsection (6).

(4)

Despite subsection (3)(a)(ii), it is not necessary to obtain the approval of a prison manager for the conduct of a strip search under subsection (3) if the delay involved in obtaining that approval would endanger the health or safety of any person or prejudice the maintenance of security at the prison.

(5)

The power to conduct a strip search of a prisoner under subsection (3) may only be exercised—

(a)

for the purpose of detecting any unauthorised item; and

(b)

if a strip search is necessary in the circumstances for the purpose of detecting an unauthorised item.

(6)

The situations referred to in subsection (3)(b) are as follows:

(a)

immediately before the prisoner is locked in a cell to undergo a penalty of cell confinement imposed under subpart 5 of Part 2:

(b)

on the return of the prisoner to the prison after the prisoner is temporarily released from custody:

(ba)

on the return of the prisoner to the prison after the prisoner has been outside the prison in the control of an officer, a probation officer, or a staff member who is not an officer:

(c)

on the return of the prisoner from work or from a part of the prison that is not supervised:

(d)

immediately before the prisoner leaves the prison:

(e)

at any time while the prisoner is being transferred to another prison:

(f)

at any time while the prisoner is outside the prison in the control of an officer:

(g)

immediately before or immediately after the prisoner is brought before—

(i)

a Visiting Justice for the purposes of any hearing or examination under subpart 5 of Part 2 or any appeal under subpart 5 of Part 2:

(ii)

a hearing adjudicator for the purposes of any hearing or examination under subpart 5 of Part 2:

(iii)

any tribunal or court:

(iv)

any hearing before the New Zealand Parole Board:

(h)

immediately before any person visits the prisoner:

(i)

immediately after any person has visited the prisoner:

(j)

if the prisoner is required under section 124 to submit to a prescribed procedure in the situation referred to in section 124(2)(d), immediately before the prisoner submits to that procedure.

(7)

Every prisoner must be required to undergo a strip search conducted by an officer—

(a)

on first being admitted to a prison; and

(b)

[Repealed]

(c)

on being received in a prison on transfer from another prison.

(7A)

Every at-risk prisoner must be required to undergo a strip search conducted by an officer—

(a)

each time the prisoner enters an at-risk cell, until an at-risk management plan is established for the prisoner:

(b)

in the situations set out in the at-risk management plan for the prisoner.

(7B)

[Repealed]

(8)

A prisoner who is required under section 124 (other than in the situation referred to in section 124(2)(d)) to submit to a prescribed procedure for the purpose of detecting whether or not the prisoner has used drugs or consumed alcohol, or both, may, immediately before the prisoner supplies a sample in accordance with that procedure, be required to undergo a strip search conducted by an officer, but only if—

(a)

the nature of the prescribed procedure is such that there is a risk that the prisoner may dilute, contaminate, or otherwise tamper with the sample; and

(b)

a strip search is necessary to ensure that such dilution, contamination, or tampering does not occur.

(9)

If a prisoner is required to undergo a strip search under this section, a scanner search may be undertaken as an alternative if the chief executive has approved the device as suitable for the purpose of replacing a strip search.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21K

Section 98(6)(b): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 23(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 98(6)(ba): inserted, on 28 April 2020, by section 25(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 98(6)(g): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 10(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 98(6)(g)(iv): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 10(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 98(6)(j): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 10(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 98(7)(b): repealed, on 28 April 2020, by section 25(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 98(7A): replaced, on 28 April 2020, by section 25(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 98(7B): repealed, on 28 April 2020, by section 25(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 98(8): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 10(4) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 98(8)(a): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 23(4) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 98(8)(b): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 23(5) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 98(9): replaced, on 29 October 2019, by section 25(4) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

99 Search of persons other than prisoners

(1)

A person who wishes to enter a prison or to visit a prisoner may, before being admitted to the prison or before being allowed access to any prisoner, be required to undergo a scanner search conducted by an officer for the purpose of detecting any unauthorised item.

(2)

A person who enters a prison or visits a prisoner may, at any time while that person is in the prison or visiting a prisoner, be required to undergo a scanner search conducted by an officer for the purpose of detecting any unauthorised item, and, if that person refuses to submit to a scanner search, reasonable force may be used for the purposes of carrying out the search.

(3)

If any officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that any person who wishes to enter a prison or visit a prisoner, or who is in a prison or visiting a prisoner, has in his or her possession any unauthorised item, the officer may, with that person’s consent, conduct a rub-down search of that person.

(4)

Any person who refuses to submit to a scanner search or a rub-down search before being admitted to a prison or any part of a prison or before being allowed access to a prisoner—

(a)

must be refused admission to the prison or that part of the prison or, as the case may be, refused access to that prisoner:

(b)

if the person is already inside the prison or visiting the prisoner, may be required to leave the prison or the other place where the prisoner is.

(4A)

Any person may be refused admission to a prison or part of the prison, refused access to a prisoner, or required to leave the prison or place where the prisoner is (as the case may be) if the person refuses to remove an item of outer clothing (on the grounds that the person has no other clothing, or only underclothing, under that outer clothing) for the purpose of a scanner search or a rub-down search.

(5)

A person who is in a prison or visiting a prisoner and who refuses to consent to a rub-down search in accordance with subsection (3) may be required to undergo a rub-down search, and reasonable force may be used for the purposes of carrying out that search.

(6)

A person may not be required to undergo a rub-down search under subsection (5) unless,—

(a)

in the case of a person in a prison, the prison manager approves the conduct of a search under subsection (5):

(b)

in the case of a person visiting a prisoner outside the prison, a security monitor, a prison manager, or the chief executive approves the conduct of a search under subsection (5).

(7)

Nothing in this section authorises the search of any prisoner.

(8)

In this section, section 100, and section 101, person includes—

(a)

a staff member:

(b)

a security officer:

(c)

a person entering a prison in the course of the person’s employment.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21L

Section 99(4A): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 26 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

100 Search of staff lockers and other places

(1)

For the purpose of detecting an unauthorised item, an officer may, with the prior approval of the prison manager, and in the presence of another officer, search any place set aside in a prison for the exclusive use of any person other than a prisoner (for example, a staff member’s locker).

(2)

If any place is to be searched under subsection (1), the person who has the exclusive use of that place must, if he or she can be identified and contacted,—

(a)

be advised of the proposed search under subsection (1) and of the person’s right to be present during that search:

(b)

be allowed to be present during that search if he or she wishes unless, in the opinion of the prison manager, deferring the search until the person can attend will involve an unacceptable delay.

Section 100(1): replaced, on 3 April 2009, by section 11 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

101 Search of vehicles

(1)

Any vehicle brought into a prison may, while that vehicle is in the prison, be searched by any officer at any time for the purposes of detecting any unauthorised item or any prisoner attempting to escape.

(2)

For the purposes of any search of a vehicle under subsection (1), any officer who is in uniform or who is wearing any badge or other article that identifies him or her as an officer may, by direction given to the driver or other person in the vehicle,—

(a)

direct, if necessary, that the vehicle be stopped:

(b)

direct that the vehicle be kept stopped until the search is completed:

(c)

require that the officer be given access to any part of the vehicle:

(d)

require any or all of the passengers (including the driver) to get out of the vehicle:

(e)

require any or all of the passengers (including the driver) to provide the officer with 1 or more of the following particulars:

(i)

his or her name:

(ii)

his or her address:

(iii)

his or her date of birth.

(3)

Reasonable force may be used for the purposes of conducting that search.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21M

102 Reporting of unauthorised items discovered, certain searches, and placement in dry cells

(1)

If any unauthorised item is discovered by any officer or staff member, whether as a consequence of a search under any of sections 98 to 101 or otherwise, the officer or staff member must, promptly after the discovery, report the details of the discovery to the prison manager concerned or to the supervisor of the security officer who discovered the item, as the case requires.

(2)

Every officer who conducts a strip search of any person in the circumstances described in section 98(3)(a) (whether or not the approval of a prison manager is required to undertake that search) or a search under section 98(9), section 99(5), or section 100 must, promptly after the search,—

(a)

if the officer is not a security officer, report the details of the search to the prison manager concerned:

(b)

if the officer is a security officer, report the details of the search to the supervisor of the security officer.

(3)

If any prisoner is placed in a cell or other facility designed to prevent the concealment or disposal of unauthorised items,—

(a)

the manager of the prison in which the cell or facility is must ensure that a record of the details of that placement, and whether any unauthorised item is discovered as a result, is made and kept:

(b)

any officer or staff member who discovers an unauthorised item following that placement must report the details of the discovery to the prison manager.

(4)

Every report under subsection (2) must contain—

(a)

the reasons for the search; and

(b)

the details of any unauthorised item discovered as a result of the search.

(5)

Every person to whom a report is made under subsection (1), subsection (2), or subsection (3)(b) must ensure that a record of that report is made and kept.

103 Detention pending investigation by Police

(1)

If an officer has reasonable grounds to believe (whether as a consequence of a search under sections 99 to 101 or otherwise) that a person in a prison (other than a prisoner) is in possession of a controlled drug within the meaning of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, the officer may—

(a)

detain that person; and

(b)

for the purposes of paragraph (a), use any physical force (and no more) that is reasonably necessary in the circumstances.

(2)

An officer may detain a person under this section only for the purpose of obtaining the attendance of a constable who is entitled in the circumstances to exercise any statutory search power.

(3)

An officer who detains a person under this section must—

(a)

promptly contact the Police to arrange the attendance of a constable; and

(b)

if advised that a constable will not attend before the expiry of the period in subsection (4), immediately release the person from detention under this section.

(4)

A person must not be detained under this section for a period exceeding 4 hours.

(5)

A person who is detained under this section is not a prisoner (within the meaning of section (3)(1)).

Section 103(2): replaced, on 17 December 2016, by section 34 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).

Section 103(3)(a): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 103(3)(b): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Opening and reading of mail and withholding of correspondence

103A Interpretation

In this section and in sections 104 to 110A, unless the context otherwise requires, authorised person means—

(a)

a prison manager; or

(b)

a staff member authorised by the manager, in writing, to read correspondence for the purpose of section 107.

Section 103A: replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 24 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

104 General considerations relating to mail

As far as practicable in the circumstances, staff members must take the following considerations into account when dealing with any mail to or from a prisoner:

(a)

the need to protect the privacy of prisoners and their correspondents:

(b)

the benefits to prisoners of maintaining contact with persons and organisations outside the prison:

(c)

the need to maintain the security and order of the prison:

(d)

the need to prevent the commission of offences:

(e)

the need to ensure the safety of any person:

(f)

the need to prevent the entry of unauthorised items into the prison:

(g)

the interests of victims:

(h)

the potential impacts of the written material on persons beyond the intended recipient, including the potential for the sharing and publication of the material:

(i)

the potential for messages to be disseminated through coded references.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 96

Section 104: amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 25 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 104(g): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 27 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 104(h): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 27 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 104(i): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 27 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

105 Restriction on sending mail to other prisoners

No prisoner at any prison may send mail to another prisoner without first notifying the prison manager of the prisoner’s intentions.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 98

106 Opening of mail

(1)

Subject to sections 109 and 110,—

(a)

mail to or from a prisoner may be opened:

(b)

mail to or from a prisoner may be examined for unauthorised items:

(c)

any unauthorised item found in any mail to a prisoner may be withheld from the prisoner, with the authority of the prison manager.

(2)

Any mail to or from a prisoner that is to be opened or examined must be opened and examined by a staff member in the presence of 1 other staff member.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 100

Section 106(2): replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 26 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

107 Reading of correspondence

(1)

An authorised person may read correspondence between a prisoner and another person for the purpose of ascertaining whether it may be withheld under section 108(1).

(2)

For the purposes of subsection (1), the authorised person may—

(a)

have translated into English any correspondence not written in English; or

(b)

have translated into te reo Māori any correspondence not written in te reo Māori.

(3)

This section is subject to sections 109 and 110.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 101

Section 107(1): replaced, on 3 April 2009, by section 15(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 107(1): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 27(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 107(2): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 27(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

108 Withholding mail

(1)

A prison manager may withhold mail between a prisoner and another person if—

(a)

the prisoner or the other person asks the manager to do so; or

(b)

the other person is under 16 years, and his or her guardian asks the manager to do so; or

(c)

the other person is a prisoner, and neither prisoner has first notified the prison manager of his or her intention to correspond; or

(d)

the manager believes on reasonable grounds that the correspondence may, directly or indirectly,—

(i)

threaten or intimidate any person; or

(ii)

endanger the safety or welfare of any person; or

(iii)

pose a threat to the security of the prison; or

(iv)

promote or encourage the commission of an offence, or involve, or facilitate the commission or possible commission of, an offence; or

(v)

prejudice the maintenance of the law (including the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, and punishment of offences, and the right to a fair trial); or

(vi)

breach an order or direction of any court (for example, a direction given under section 168A (no-contact conditions if family violence offence defendant remanded in custody) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011) or constitute contempt of court; or

(vii)

promote or encourage hostility towards any group of persons on 1 or more of the grounds specified in section 21 of the Human Rights Act 1993.

(2)

If mail or an unauthorised item found in any mail is withheld, the prisoner to or from whom the mail was directed must be informed that the mail or item, as the case may be, has been withheld, unless it is to be forwarded to an enforcement officer.

(3)

This section is subject to sections 109 and 110.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 102

Section 108(1)(d): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 28(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 108(1)(d)(i): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 28(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 108(1)(d)(iv): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 16(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 108(1)(d)(v): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 16(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 108(1)(d)(vi): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 16(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 108(1)(d)(vi): amended, on 1 July 2019, by section 52 of the Family Violence (Amendments) Act 2018 (2018 No 47).

Section 108(1)(d)(vii): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 28(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

109 Mail between prisoners, official agencies, and members of Parliament

A staff member must not open any mail and an authorised person must not read any correspondence and a prison manager must not withhold any mail that—

(a)

is from a prisoner to an official agency; or

(b)

is from a prisoner to a member of Parliament and is addressed to that member at Parliament; or

(c)

is from an official agency or member of Parliament to a prisoner, and accompanied by a covering letter addressed to the prison manager stating that the agency or member of Parliament is acting in an official capacity in respect of the prisoner.

Section 109: replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 28 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

110 Mail between prisoners and legal advisers

(1)

A staff member must not open any mail and an authorised person must not read any correspondence and a prison manager must not withhold any mail between a prisoner and his or her legal adviser, unless authorised to do so under any of subsections (2) to (6).

(2)

A staff member may open any mail that—

(a)

is being sent by a prisoner to his or her legal adviser, but is not addressed to the legal adviser at the legal adviser’s business address (including any postal address used for business purposes); or

(b)

has been sent by a prisoner’s legal adviser to the prisoner, but is not accompanied by a covering letter from the legal adviser, addressed to the manager of the prison, stating that—

(i)

the legal adviser is acting in a professional capacity in respect of the prisoner; and

(ii)

the mail or correspondence relates to the prisoner’s legal affairs.

(3)

The manager of a prison may examine any mail between a prisoner and his or her legal adviser appearing to contain an unauthorised item, or any correspondence or document not related to the prisoner’s legal affairs.

(4)

The manager of a prison—

(a)

may read any correspondence or document, or any part of any correspondence or document, contained in any mail between a prisoner and his or her legal adviser examined under subsection (3) that appears not to be related to the prisoner’s legal affairs; but

(b)

must stop reading the correspondence or document, or part of the correspondence or document, as soon as it appears to be related to the prisoner’s legal affairs.

(5)

Any unauthorised item contained in any mail to a prisoner from his or her legal adviser that has been examined under subsection (3) may be withheld from the prisoner.

(6)

Section 108 applies to any correspondence or document contained in any mail between a prisoner and his or her legal adviser if—

(a)

the manager has read it under subsection (4); and

(b)

it (or any part of it) appears to the manager not to be related to the prisoner’s legal affairs.

(7)

Mail examined under subsection (3) must be examined in the prisoner’s presence.

(8)

Mail read under subsection (4) must be read in the prisoner’s presence.

(9)

No mail between a prisoner and his or her legal adviser may contain any item other than correspondence or documents relating to the prisoner’s legal affairs unless the prisoner and legal adviser first obtain the prison manager’s written approval.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 104

Section 110(1): replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 29(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 110(2): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 29(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

110A Restrictions on disclosure of mail

An authorised person must not disclose any information obtained from correspondence contained in any mail between a prisoner and another person unless—

(a)

the disclosure is made to another authorised person for the purpose of determining whether—

(i)

mail may be withheld under section 108(1); or

(ii)

mail that is withheld under section 108(1) should be forwarded to an enforcement officer under section 108(2); or

(iii)

paragraph (c) applies; or

(b)

the authorised person believes on reasonable grounds that the disclosure—

(i)

is necessary to avoid prejudice to the maintenance of the law by a public sector agency (within the meaning of the Privacy Act 2020), including the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, and punishment of offences; or

(ii)

is necessary for the conduct of proceedings (already commenced or reasonably in contemplation) before a court or tribunal; or

(iii)

is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to public health, public safety, or the life or health of any person; or

(iv)

has been authorised by the Privacy Commissioner under section 30 of the Privacy Act 2020; or

(c)

the disclosure is required by any enactment or rule of law.

Section 110A: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 19 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 110A: amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 30(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 110A(a): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 30(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 110A(b): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 30(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 110A(b)(i): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 110A(b)(iv): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

110B Warnings in relation to mail

The chief executive must take all practicable steps to ensure that when, or reasonably promptly after, prisoners are received at a prison they are informed in writing—

(a)

that their correspondence—

(i)

may be opened and read; and

(ii)

may be withheld, and the grounds on which it may be withheld; and

(b)

about the types of correspondence that are exempted from being opened, read, and withheld, and the extent to which the exemptions apply.

Section 110B: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 19 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

110C Application of Privacy Act 2020

The Privacy Act 2020 applies to any activity authorised under any of sections 104 to 110B relating to correspondence to or from a prisoner.

Section 110C: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 19 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 110C heading: amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 110C: amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Telephone calls may be monitored

111 Interpretation

In this section and in sections 112 to 122, unless the context otherwise requires,—

completely erased means erased so that it is not retrievable

contracted provider means a person engaged by the chief executive to provide services in connection with telephone monitoring

device, in relation to a telephone call, includes any answering machine, computer, fax, printer, tape recorder, or telephone

disclose a prisoner call means to disclose the substance, meaning, or purport of a prisoner call, or of any part of it; and includes—

(a)

to allow any person to listen to or read a recording of a prisoner call; and

(b)

to give or lend to any person a recording of a prisoner call

eligible employee means a person who is an employee of the chief executive, an employee of a contractor, an employee of a contracted provider, or a contracted provider

exempt call means a prisoner call to which section 114 applies

information includes data in digital form

monitor means to do any or all of the following:

(a)

listen to, record, and take notes from:

(b)

listen to, read, and take notes from a recording of

prisoner call—

(a)

means any information transmitted by means of a telephone call to which a prisoner is a party that is conducted while the prisoner is in the prison; and

(b)

includes part of a prisoner call

recording, in relation to a prisoner call, means any means by which all or any part of the call has been captured; and includes—

(a)

a copy or printout of such a means:

(b)

a transcript, written translation, or written translation of a transcript, of the call:

(c)

a copy of a recording of a transcript, written translation, or written translation of a transcript, of the call

telephone call means a call made, using any part or parts of 1 or more telephone systems, between a device and any other device or devices

telephone system includes a telephone network

translate includes to decode and decrypt; and translation has a corresponding meaning.

112 Purposes of monitoring prisoners’ calls

(1)

The principal purpose of monitoring prisoner calls is to increase the safety of the community by making it easier to—

(a)

prevent and discourage the commission of offences by, for the benefit of, or with the help or encouragement of, prisoners; and

(b)

detect and investigate offences committed by, for the benefit of, or with the help or encouragement of, prisoners; and

(c)

prosecute, convict, and punish—

(i)

prisoners who commit offences, or who help or encourage other people to commit offences; and

(ii)

people who commit offences for the benefit of, or with the help or encouragement of, prisoners; and

(ca)

detect and prevent non-compliance with directions given under section 168A (no-contact conditions if family violence offence defendant remanded in custody) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011; and

(d)

prevent and discourage escapes from prisons.

(2)

Monitoring prisoner calls also has the purpose of making it easier to—

(a)

maintain the security, good order, and discipline of prisons; and

(b)

protect the safety of prisoners.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21N

Section 112(1)(ca): inserted, on 1 July 2019, by section 53 of the Family Violence (Amendments) Act 2018 (2018 No 47).

113 Prisoner calls that may be monitored

(1)

Any prisoner call that is not an exempt call may be monitored under this Act.

(2)

An exempt call may be monitored under this Act if the person undertaking the monitoring does not have reasonable grounds to believe that it is an exempt call.

(3)

A person listening to a prisoner call or a recording of a prisoner call under this Act who forms the view that there are reasonable grounds to believe that it is an exempt call—

(a)

must promptly stop listening to it; and

(b)

must take all practicable steps to ensure that every recording of it is destroyed or completely erased.

(4)

Subsection (2) is subject to subsection (3).

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21O

114 Certain calls must not be monitored

(1)

A prisoner call to which subsection (2) applies is exempt from monitoring under this Act.

(2)

This subsection applies to a prisoner call if, and only if, it is—

(a)

a call between a prisoner and a member of Parliament; or

(b)

a call, relating to the prisoner’s legal affairs, between a prisoner and a barrister or solicitor of the High Court—

(i)

who acts for the prisoner; or

(ii)

with whom the prisoner is discussing the possibility of the person’s acting for the prisoner; or

(c)

a call between a prisoner and a person acting, in respect of the prisoner, in an official capacity as—

(i)

an Ombudsman; or

(ii)

an inspector of corrections; or

(iii)

the Health and Disability Commissioner; or

(iv)

the Privacy Commissioner; or

(v)

a member of the Human Rights Commission continued by section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1993, or an employee of the Commission; or

(vi)

a member of the Independent Police Conduct Authority; or

(vii)

the Children’s Commissioner; or

(viii)

a Justice of the Peace; or

(d)

a call between a prisoner and a person acting, in his or her official capacity, on behalf of the International Criminal Court; or

(e)

a call between a prisoner and a person (other than a prisoner) who—

(i)

is a person of a kind or description for the time being exempted from monitoring under this Act by the Governor-General by Order in Council (being an order specifying a purpose or purposes for which the exemption is granted); and

(ii)

is acting for a purpose specified in the order; or

(f)

a call between a prisoner and a person (other than a prisoner) for the time being exempted from monitoring under this Act by the chief executive.

(3)

An order under subsection (2)(e)(i) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Compare: 1994 No 51 s 21P

Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section
Publication	PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette	LA19 s 69(1)(c)
Presentation	The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives, unless it relates exclusively to an individual (in which case a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019)	LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a)
Disallowance	It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives	LA19 ss 115, 116
This note is not part of the Act.

Section 114(2)(c)(vi): amended, on 29 November 2007, by section 26 of the Independent Police Conduct Authority Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 38).

Section 114(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

115 Only certain persons may monitor

(1)

No person other than the chief executive or a person who is an eligible employee authorised by the chief executive to monitor prisoner calls (in subsection (2), and sections 117, 118, and 120 referred to as an authorised person) may monitor a prisoner call under this Act.

(2)

A person authorised to monitor prisoner calls under subsection (1) ceases to be an authorised person if—

(a)

the chief executive cancels the authority; or

(b)

the person ceases to be an eligible employee.

(3)

A person to whom subsection (4) applies may listen to a prisoner call or a recording of a prisoner call, or read a transcript of a prisoner call, if doing so is necessary for, or incidental to any other action or process necessary for, the effective undertaking of the work concerned.

(4)

This subsection applies to a person who is undertaking, with the chief executive’s authority, work comprising the administration, installation, maintenance, repair, testing, or upgrading of a system—

(a)

by or from which recordings of prisoner calls are made; or

(b)

in which recordings of prisoner calls are stored.

(5)

Subsection (1) is subject to subsection (2) and to section 117(4) to (6).

Compare: 1954 No 51 ss 21Q, 21R

116 Warnings

The chief executive must take all practicable steps to ensure that—

(a)

on or reasonably promptly after being admitted to a prison, prisoners are informed in writing—

(i)

that some of their telephone calls may be monitored; and

(ii)

which types of call are exempt from monitoring; and

(iii)

the purposes for which information obtained from monitoring may be used; and

(b)

there are prominently placed in every prison, near telephones that prisoners are authorised to use, written notices—

(i)

warning prisoners that their telephone calls (other than exempt calls) may be monitored; and

(ii)

stating in general terms the purposes for which information obtained from monitoring may be used; and

(c)

at the start of every outward prisoner call that is being or is to be monitored, the prisoner hears, and there is transmitted to the device to which the call is made, a message to the effect that the call may be monitored.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21S

117 Authorised disclosure of information

(1AAA)

An authorised person may disclose a prisoner call only as provided in this section.

(1)

An authorised person may disclose a prisoner call for a purpose set out in section 112 as a purpose of monitoring prisoner calls.

(2)

An authorised person may disclose a prisoner call if the authorised person believes on reasonable grounds that the disclosure—

(a)

(b)

is necessary for the conduct of proceedings (already commenced or reasonably in contemplation) before a court or tribunal; or

(c)

is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat (as defined in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020) to—

(i)

public health or public safety; or

(ii)

the life or health of any person; or

(d)

has been authorised by the Privacy Commissioner under section 30 of the Privacy Act 2020.

(2A)

An authorised person may disclose a prisoner call to an intelligence and security agency only if the authorised person believes, on reasonable grounds, that the disclosure is necessary to enable the agency to perform any of its functions under section 10, 11, 13, or 14 of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017.

(3)

An authorised person may disclose a prisoner call to the prisoner concerned.

(4)

An authorised person who is listening to a prisoner call may allow any eligible employee to listen to the call for the purpose of interpreting it.

(5)

An authorised person may allow any eligible employee to listen to a recording of a prisoner for the purpose of providing a transcript, a written translation, or both.

(6)

An authorised person may allow any eligible employee to read a transcript of a prisoner call for the purpose of providing a written translation.

(7)

[Repealed]

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21T

Section 117(1AAA): inserted, on 28 September 2017, by section 252(1) of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 (2017 No 10).

Section 117(2)(a): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 117(2)(c): replaced, on 28 September 2017, by section 252(2) of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 (2017 No 10).

Section 117(2)(c): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 117(2)(d): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 117(2A): inserted, on 28 September 2017, by section 252(3) of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 (2017 No 10).

Section 117(7): repealed, on 29 October 2019, by section 29 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

118 Restrictions on disclosure of information

(1)

An authorised person must not knowingly disclose a prisoner call otherwise than under section 117.

(2)

An authorised person who is listening to a prisoner call must not knowingly allow any other person to listen to it, except under section 117.

(3)

An eligible employee (other than an authorised person) who, under section 117, has been allowed to listen to a prisoner call or a recording of a prisoner call, or to read a transcript of a prisoner call, must not knowingly disclose the call except to an authorised person.

(4)

A person who, under section 115(2), has heard a prisoner call or a recording of a prisoner call, or read a transcript of a prisoner call, must not knowingly disclose the call except to an authorised person.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21U

Section 118(1): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 30 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

119 Application of Privacy Act 2020

The Privacy Act 2020 applies to the monitoring of prisoner calls under sections 112 to 122.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21V

Section 119 heading: amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 119: amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

120 Destruction of recordings

(1)

The chief executive must take all practicable steps to ensure that every recording of a prisoner call held by the chief executive is destroyed or completely erased,—

(a)

not later than 2 years after the call was made unless the chief executive has within that time considered that the information contained in the recording is likely to be—

(i)

required for the purposes of an investigation into an offence or possible offence; or

(ii)

required for the purposes of an investigation into the possibility that an offence may be committed in the future; or

(iii)

required for evidence in a prosecution or possible prosecution for an offence, or in disciplinary proceedings, or in proceedings against a prisoner for a disciplinary offence; or

(iv)

required to be disclosed under the Privacy Act 2020; or

(b)

within a time prescribed in regulations (being a time not later than 2 years after the call was made) if any circumstances prescribed in regulations apply.

(1A)

If a recording of a prisoner call is held by the chief executive for any reason specified in subsection (1)(a), the chief executive must, as soon as he or she is satisfied that the information contained in the recording is no longer likely to be required for that reason, take all practicable steps to ensure the recording is destroyed or completely erased.

(2)

Despite subsection (1), if the Privacy Commissioner has notified the chief executive in writing that a complaint has been made under the Privacy Act 2020 in relation to the recording, the recording must not be destroyed or erased in accordance with that subsection until the Privacy Commissioner has notified the chief executive in writing that the complaint has—

(a)

not been proceeded with; or

(b)

been finally disposed of.

(3)

The Commissioner of Police or, as the case may be, the chief executive or board of a public service agency (except an intelligence or security agency) must take all practicable steps to ensure that every recording of a prisoner call held by the Police or that department that was obtained by the monitoring of the call under this Act is destroyed, or completely erased, as soon as it appears that no proceedings or disciplinary proceedings (or no further proceedings or disciplinary proceedings) will be taken in which any information contained in it would be likely to be required to be produced in evidence.

(3A)

The Director-General of an intelligence and security agency must ensure that every recording of a prisoner call held by the agency that was obtained by the monitoring of the call under this Act is destroyed, or completely erased, as soon as practicable if the recording is not required, or is no longer required, by the agency for the purpose of its functions.

(4)

Nothing in subsections (1), (3), and (3A) applies to any record of any information adduced in proceedings in any court or tribunal.

(5)

Subsection (6) applies if—

(a)

2 or more recordings of prisoner calls are stored in such a way that it is not practicable to destroy or completely erase one without destroying or completely erasing the others; and

(b)

subsection (1) requires the destruction or complete erasure of 1 or more, but not all of them.

(6)

If this subsection applies, an authorised person may arrange for the recording or recordings that are not required to be destroyed or completely erased to be copied, so that the copy or copies may be retained and all the recordings may be destroyed or completely erased.

(7)

Any copy made in accordance with subsection (6) is admissible in evidence to the same extent that the destroyed recording it is a copy of would have been.

(8)

For the purpose of subsection (3),—

(a)

public service agency has the meaning given to it in section 5 of the Public Service Act 2020:

(b)

if the recording referred to in subsection (3) is held by a departmental agency or an interdepartmental executive board (within the meaning of those terms in section 5 of the Public Service Act 2020), compliance with that subsection is the responsibility of its host department or, as the case may be, servicing department.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21W

Section 120(1): replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 31 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 120(1)(a)(iv): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 120(1A): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 31 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 120(2): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 120(3): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Section 120(3): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 31(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 120(3A): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 31(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 120(4): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 31(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 120(8): inserted, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

121 Notice to be given of intention to produce evidence of recording

Particulars of a recording of a prisoner call must not be received in evidence by any court against any person, or in any proceedings against a prisoner for a disciplinary offence, unless the party intending to adduce it has given the person reasonable notice of the party’s intention to do so, together with—

(a)

either—

(i)

a transcript of the recording if the party intends to adduce it in the form of a recording; or

(ii)

a written statement setting out the full particulars of the recording if the party intends to adduce oral evidence of it; and

(b)

a statement of the time, place, and date of the call, and of the names and addresses of the parties to the call, if they are known.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21X

122 Privileged evidence

(1)

This subsection applies to evidence that—

(a)

has been obtained by the monitoring of a prisoner call under sections 112 to 121; and

(b)

but for the monitoring, would have been privileged by virtue of—

(i)

any provision of Part 3 of the Evidence Amendment Act (No 2) 1980; or

(ii)

any rule of law conferring privilege on communications of a professional character between a barrister or solicitor and a client.

(2)

Evidence to which subsection (1) applies remains privileged, and must not be given in any court except with the consent of the person entitled to waive the privilege.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21Z

Alcohol and drugs

123 Chief executive must issue drug and alcohol strategy

(1)

The chief executive must, at intervals of not more than 5 years, issue a drug and alcohol strategy relating to drug and alcohol use by prisoners.

(2)

Every drug and alcohol strategy must include provisions relating to the following matters:

(a)

the assessment of individual prisoners:

(b)

measures to detect drug use in prisons:

(c)

measures to reduce the demand for drugs and alcohol among prisoners:

(d)

measures to reduce the supply of drugs and alcohol to prisoners:

(e)

treatment services and harm minimisation services:

(f)

staff training.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36B

124 Prisoner may be required to submit to drug or alcohol test

(1)

An officer may, in any of the situations referred to in subsection (2) and subject to any limitations prescribed by regulations, require a prisoner to submit to any prescribed procedure for the purpose of detecting whether or not the prisoner has used drugs, consumed alcohol, or both.

(2)

The situations referred to in subsection (1) are as follows:

(a)

if the prison manager suspects, on reasonable grounds, that the prisoner has committed an offence against section 129 or section 130(1):

(b)

if the prisoner’s name has been selected under a random-testing programme established by regulations made under this Act for purposes set out in those regulations:

(c)

if the prisoner is a voluntary participant in any programme, regime, or custodial arrangement—

(i)

that has as one of its aims the reduction of drug and alcohol use among prisoners; and

(ii)

under which the prisoner agrees to submit, on demand made under this section, to any prescribed procedure:

(d)

if the prisoner has submitted to a prescribed procedure under this section by supplying a sample and the prison manager believes, on reasonable grounds, that the sample supplied is dilute, tainted, or otherwise contaminated.

(3)

Despite subsection (1), a person may not be required to submit to a prescribed procedure under this section if he or she is for the time being temporarily released from custody under section 62.

(4)

Nothing in subsection (3) prevents a person from being required to submit to a prescribed procedure under this section when the person ceases to be on temporary release from custody under section 62.

(5)

No procedure may be prescribed that requires any prisoner to supply a sample of his or her blood, but nothing in this subsection limits the power to prescribe any procedure that requires a prisoner to supply any other type of sample (including, without limitation, a sample of saliva or urine, or other bodily sample).

Compare: 1954 No 51 ss 36BB, 45(22)–(23A)

Section 124(1): amended, on 5 March 2013, by section 32(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 124(2)(a): amended, on 5 March 2013, by section 32(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 124(2)(c)(i): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 20(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 124(2)(d): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 20(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

125 Obligations of persons carrying out procedure

On requiring a prisoner to submit to a prescribed procedure under section 124, the officer must—

(a)

inform the prisoner—

(i)

of the reason for the requirement; and

(ii)

of the consequences for the prisoner if the prisoner refuses to submit to the procedure; and

(iii)

that it is a disciplinary offence to dilute, contaminate, or otherwise tamper with any sample required to be supplied in accordance with the procedure; and

(b)

explain to the prisoner, in general terms,—

(i)

how the procedure will be carried out; and

(ii)

how any sample obtained from the procedure will be analysed.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36BB(4)

Section 125(a)(iii): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 33 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

126 Prisoner must be informed of result of procedure

If, under section 124, a prisoner submits to a prescribed procedure, the prison manager must ensure that the prisoner is informed, promptly and in writing, of the result of the procedure.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36BC

127 Restrictions on use of result of procedure

(1)

Neither the fact that a prisoner has been required, under section 124, to submit to a prescribed procedure nor any information obtained from that prescribed procedure are admissible as evidence against any prisoner or any other person—

(a)

in any proceedings under this Act, other than proceedings for an offence against section 129 or section 130(1); or

(b)

in any proceedings under any other enactment.

(2)

To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not prevent any fact or information from being presented to, or considered by, the New Zealand Parole Board.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36BD

Subpart 5—Offences

Offences against discipline

128 Offences by prisoner

(1)

Every prisoner (whether inside or outside a prison) commits an offence against discipline who—

(a)

disobeys any lawful order of an officer or a staff member, or disobeys or fails to comply with any regulation made under this Act or any rule of the prison made under section 33:

(b)

deliberately mismanages his or her work:

(c)

behaves in an offensive, threatening, abusive, or intimidating manner:

(d)

without authority, communicates with any person inside or outside the prison by using a telephone or other electronic communication device:

(e)

leaves or is absent from his or her cell or place of work or other place where the prisoner is required to be without permission or reasonable excuse:

(f)

without the approval of an officer, has any article in his or her cell or in his or her possession, or gives to or receives from any person any article, or attempts to obtain any article:

(g)

assaults, or fights with, any other person:

(h)

deliberately disfigures, damages, or destroys any part of the prison or any property that is not his or her own, or who loses any prison property because of his or her negligence or improper conduct:

(i)

obstructs any officer in the execution of his or her duty:

(j)

makes an allegation against any staff member, security officer, prisoner, or any other person lawfully in the prison, knowing that the allegation is false:

(k)

combines with other prisoners for a purpose that is likely to endanger the security or good order of the prison:

(l)

escapes from any prison or from lawful custody:

(m)

contrary to a direction given under section 41, refuses to submit to—

(i)

photographs being taken of the prisoner:

(ii)

biometric information being collected from the prisoner:

(iii)

measurements being taken from the prisoner:

(iv)

any other prescribed procedure designed to create a record to enable the subsequent identification of the prisoner.

(n)

being a prisoner who is temporarily removed from prison under section 62, is in breach of any condition imposed under section 64:

(o)

tattoos another prisoner:

(p)

receives a tattoo with his or her consent:

(q)

tattoos himself or herself:

(r)

contacts a person in breach of a court order or direction of any court.

(2)

If an allegation referred to in subsection (1)(j) is against a staff member of a prison or a security officer,—

(a)

a charge alleging an offence under that provision may only be laid,—

(i)

in the case of a staff member, if the supervisor of that staff member or the prison manager gives his or her written approval to the laying of the charge:

(ii)

in the case of a security officer, if the supervisor of that security officer or the security contractor who employs that security officer gives his or her written approval to the laying of the charge:

(b)

the charge may not be laid until any investigation of the allegation by an inspector of corrections, an Ombudsman, or any other official agency has been completed:

(c)

the charge may only be heard by—

(i)

a hearing adjudicator who is employed at another prison or appointed in respect of another prison than the prison at which the staff member is employed; or

(ii)

a Visiting Justice.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 32(1), (2)

Section 128(1)(d): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 21 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 128(1)(m): replaced, on 22 August 2017, by section 17 of the Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 42).

Section 128(1)(o): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 32 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 128(1)(p): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 32 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 128(1)(q): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 32 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

Section 128(1)(r): inserted, on 29 October 2019, by section 32 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

129 Offences by prisoners relating to drugs, alcohol, smoking, and vaping

Every prisoner commits an offence against discipline who,—

(a)

without the authority of a medical officer or health centre manager or unless section 79(3) applies, uses any drug or consumes alcohol (whether inside or outside a prison); or

(aa)

smokes tobacco or any other substance, or vapes within the meaning of section 2 of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990, inside a prison; or

(b)

having been required under section 124 to submit to a prescribed procedure,—

(i)

refuses to comply with the requirement; or

(ii)

without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the requirement; or

(c)

does any of the following in respect of any sample required to be supplied (whether by that prisoner or any other prisoner) in accordance with a prescribed procedure:

(i)

consumes, administers, or supplies any substance with intent to dilute or contaminate the sample:

(ii)

otherwise tampers with the sample.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 32A(1)

Section 129 heading: amended, on 11 November 2020, by section 30 of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 62).

Section 129 heading: amended, on 5 March 2013, by section 34(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 129(a): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 34(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 129(a): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 22 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 129(aa): inserted, on 5 March 2013, by section 34(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 129(aa): amended, on 11 November 2020, by section 30 of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 62).

Section 129(c): replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 34(4) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

130 Offences committed by persons while on temporary release from custody under section 62

(1)

Every person commits an offence against discipline who, without the authority of a medical officer or health centre manager, uses any drug or consumes alcohol during any period while the person is on temporary release from custody under section 62.

(2)

Every person commits an offence against discipline who is in breach of a condition imposed on his or her release during any period while the person is on temporary release from custody under section 62.

(3)

No complaint alleging that a person has committed an offence against this section may be laid while that person is on temporary release from custody under section 62, but nothing in this subsection prevents the laying of a complaint of that kind once that person returns to prison.

(4)

If a complaint is laid alleging an offence against this section, it must be determined in accordance with sections 133 to 140 and the person against whom the complaint is laid must be treated, for the purposes of this Act, as if he or she were a prisoner at the time when the act or omission alleged to constitute the offence occurred.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 32A(2)–(4)

Section 130(1): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 35 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

131 Attempting or aiding commission of offence against discipline

Every prisoner or person on temporary release from custody under section 62 who attempts to commit any offence against discipline, or who aids, counsels, or procures the commission of any such offence, is liable to be dealt with and punished in the same manner as if he or she had committed the offence.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 32(3)

132 Minor or unintentional breaches of discipline

(1)

As far as practicable in the circumstances and if appropriate, an officer must deal with a minor or an unintentional breach of discipline by a prisoner in the following manner:

(a)

by stopping the breach of discipline and explaining the nature of the breach to the prisoner committing the breach:

(b)

by instructing the prisoner to correct his or her behaviour:

(c)

by allowing the prisoner to make amends to any person aggrieved by the breach.

(2)

If a minor or an unintentional breach of discipline is not dealt with under subsection (1), this section does not prevent a prisoner from being charged with a disciplinary offence.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 143

133 Powers of hearing adjudicator in relation to offences against discipline

(1)

A hearing adjudicator has power to hear any complaint relating to any offence against discipline alleged to have been committed by a prisoner, and may examine any person concerning the alleged offence, on oath or otherwise at his or her discretion.

(2)

Every hearing and examination must be in the presence and hearing of the prisoner charged with the offence, who is entitled to be heard and to cross-examine any witness.

(3)

If, at any hearing under this section, a hearing adjudicator finds the offence proved, he or she may impose 1 or more of the following penalties:

(a)

forfeiture or postponement of all or any privileges for any period not exceeding 28 days:

(b)

forfeiture of earnings for any period not exceeding 7 days:

(c)

confinement in a cell for any period not exceeding 7 days.

(3A)

The hearing adjudicator must take into account the prisoner’s circumstances before imposing any forfeiture or postponement of privileges under subsection (3)(a).

(4)

If the offence proved is—

(a)

any offence against section 128(1), 129, 130, or 131, the hearing adjudicator may, after giving the prisoner an opportunity to provide reasons why the order should not be made, and whether or not he or she imposes a penalty under subsection (3), order that any article or thing used to commit the offence or in respect of which the offence was committed be forfeited to the Crown:

(b)

an offence against section 128(1)(h), the hearing adjudicator may, whether or not he or she imposes any penalty under subsection (3), order that a specified amount (not exceeding the lesser of the value of the damage to, or loss of, property or $100) be withdrawn or withheld from the earnings payable under section 66 or section 67 and credited to the prisoner:

(c)

an offence against section 130(1) or (2), the hearing adjudicator may, after giving the prisoner an opportunity to provide reasons why the order should not be made, and whether or not he or she imposes any penalty under subsection (3), order the forfeiture to the Crown of a specified amount not exceeding $100 from earnings payable under section 67 and credited to the prisoner.

(5)

If the hearing adjudicator considers that, in the circumstances of the case, the prisoner should be charged before a court with an offence (other than an offence against section 128, section 129, or section 130), instead of being dealt with under this section, the hearing adjudicator may, at his or her discretion, at any time before making a decision as to whether the charge is proved under this section,—

(a)

decline to proceed with the hearing; and

(b)

request the appropriate authority to prosecute the prisoner and forward with that request a summary of the adjudicator’s reasons for making the request.

(6)

This section is subject to sections 134 to 140.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 34(1)–(3)

Section 133(3)(a): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 36(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 133(3A): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 36(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 133(4)(a): replaced, on 3 April 2009, by section 23 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

134 Decision as to who is to hear charge

(1)

If a complaint alleging an offence against discipline is brought before a hearing adjudicator, the adjudicator may, at any time before making a decision as to whether the charge is proved, refer the case to a Visiting Justice for hearing and determination in accordance with section 137.

(2)

A hearing adjudicator may exercise the powers conferred by subsection (1) only if the adjudicator considers—

(a)

that the conduct that is alleged to constitute the offence may warrant a higher penalty than can be imposed by the adjudicator under section 133; or

(b)

that, because of the complexity of the issues likely to arise (including, without limitation, points of law), it would be appropriate for the case to be referred to a Visiting Justice; or

(c)

that both paragraphs (a) and (b) apply.

(3)

If a hearing adjudicator exercises the powers conferred by subsection (1), the adjudicator must forward a summary of his or her reasons for the decision to the Visiting Justice.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 34(4)(a)

135 Applications for legal representation

(1)

If a prisoner requests permission to be legally represented at the hearing of a charge alleging an offence against discipline, the request must be considered and determined by—

(a)

a hearing adjudicator; or

(b)

if the case has been referred to a Visiting Justice under section 134, a Visiting Justice.

(2)

In determining whether to grant permission to a prisoner to be legally represented, the hearing adjudicator or Visiting Justice must have regard to—

(a)

the seriousness of the conduct that is alleged to constitute the offence and the magnitude of the penalty that is likely to be imposed:

(b)

the complexity of the issues that are likely to arise at the hearing (including, without limitation, points of law):

(c)

any procedural difficulties likely to be encountered (for example, the need to cross-examine witnesses):

(d)

the capacity of the prisoner concerned to present his or her case effectively:

(e)

the need for reasonable speed generally in decision-making required for the determination of charges relating to offences against discipline:

(f)

the need to ensure that hearings of those charges are conducted fairly as between—

(i)

different prisoners:

(ii)

the complainant and the defendant:

(g)

any other matter that the adjudicator considers relevant.

(3)

If a request under subsection (1) is considered by a hearing adjudicator and the adjudicator permits the prisoner to be legally represented at the hearing, the adjudicator must refer the case to a Visiting Justice for hearing and determination in accordance with section 137.

(4)

If the hearing adjudicator does not permit the prisoner to be legally represented, that hearing adjudicator or another hearing adjudicator must hear and determine the case in accordance with section 133, unless it is referred to a Visiting Justice under section 134.

(5)

A hearing adjudicator or Visiting Justice must provide the prisoner and the prison manager with a summary in writing of his or her reasons for the decision to permit or, as the case may require, not to permit the prisoner to be legally represented.

136 Right to appeal to Visiting Justice against decision of hearing adjudicator

(1)

If a prisoner is dissatisfied with any decision of a hearing adjudicator, the prisoner may, no later than 14 days after the date of the decision, request that the decision be referred by way of appeal to a Visiting Justice; on receiving that request, the prison manager must promptly refer it to a Visiting Justice.

(2)

If the appeal to the Visiting Justice relates to a refusal to grant the prisoner permission to be legally represented at his or her hearing, the Visiting Justice must consider the appeal and may confirm the decision of the hearing adjudicator or reverse it.

(3)

If the Visiting Justice allows the appeal under subsection (2), the Visiting Justice must hear or, as the case requires, rehear the whole case.

(4)

If the appeal to the Visiting Justice relates to any finding of the hearing adjudicator, the Visiting Justice must rehear the whole case, and may—

(a)

either reverse that finding or confirm it; and

(b)

either confirm the penalty or, if in his or her opinion the circumstances require it, impose in its place any penalty that could have been imposed by the hearing adjudicator.

(5)

If the appeal to the Visiting Justice relates only to a penalty imposed by the hearing adjudicator, the Visiting Justice must consider only the question of the penalty, and may either—

(a)

confirm the penalty; or

(b)

if in his or her opinion the circumstances require it, impose in its place any penalty that could have been imposed by the hearing adjudicator.

(6)

If there is an appeal under this section, any penalty imposed by the hearing adjudicator is suspended, until the appeal is disposed of.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 35

137 Powers of Visiting Justice in relation to offences by prisoners

(1)

Every Visiting Justice has power to hear any complaint relating to any offence against discipline alleged to have been committed by a prisoner, and may examine any person concerning the alleged offence on oath or otherwise at his or her discretion.

(2)

Every hearing and examination must be in the presence and hearing of the prisoner charged with the offence, who is entitled to be heard and to cross-examine any witness.

(3)

If, at any hearing under this section, the Visiting Justice finds the offence proved, he or she may impose 1 or more of the following penalties:

(a)

forfeiture or postponement of all or any privileges for any period not exceeding 3 months:

(b)

forfeiture of earnings for any period not exceeding 3 months:

(c)

confinement in a cell for any period not exceeding 15 days.

(3A)

The Visiting Justice must take into account the prisoner’s circumstances before imposing any forfeiture or postponement of privileges under subsection (3)(a).

(4)

If the offence proved is—

(a)

any offence against section 128(1), 129, 130, or 131, the Visiting Justice may, after giving the prisoner an opportunity to provide reasons why the order should not be made, and whether or not he or she imposes a penalty under subsection (3), order that any article or thing used to commit the offence or in respect of which the offence was committed be forfeited to the Crown:

(b)

an offence against section 128(1)(h), the Visiting Justice may, whether or not he or she imposes any penalty under subsection (3), order that a specified amount (not exceeding the lesser of the value of the damage to, or loss of, property involved or $500) be withdrawn or withheld from the earnings payable under section 66 or section 67 and credited to the prisoner:

(c)

an offence against section 130(1) or (2), the Visiting Justice may, after giving the prisoner an opportunity to provide reasons why the order should not be made, and whether or not he or she imposes any penalty under subsection (3), order the forfeiture to the Crown of any specified amount not exceeding $500 from earnings payable under section 67 and credited to the prisoner.

(5)

Despite subsections (3) and (4), if the case was referred to the Visiting Justice for hearing under section 134(2)(b) or section 135(3), the Visiting Justice may only impose 1 or more of the penalties set out in section 133(3) and any applicable penalty set out in section 133(4), unless—

(a)

the case was also referred to the Visiting Justice for hearing under section 134(2)(a) or (c); or

(b)

the Visiting Justice considers that the case could have been referred to him or her for hearing under section 134(2)(a), instead of under section 134(2)(b) or section 135(3).

(6)

If the Visiting Justice considers that, in the circumstances of the case, the prisoner should be charged before a court with an offence (other than an offence against section 128, section 129, or section 130) instead of being dealt with under this section, the Visiting Justice may, at his or her discretion, at any time before making a decision as to whether the charge is proved,—

(a)

decline to proceed with the hearing; and

(b)

request the appropriate authority to prosecute the prisoner and forward with the request a summary of the Visiting Justice’s reasons for making that request.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 33

Section 137(3)(a): amended, on 4 June 2013, by section 37(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 137(3A): inserted, on 4 June 2013, by section 37(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Section 137(4)(a): replaced, on 3 April 2009, by section 24 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

138 Reference of case from Visiting Justice to hearing adjudicator

(1)

Despite anything in sections 134 to 137, a Visiting Justice may, before making a decision as to whether the charge is proved, refer the case to a hearing adjudicator for hearing or rehearing and determination in accordance with section 133.

(2)

A Visiting Justice may exercise the power conferred by subsection (1) only if he or she considers that—

(a)

it is appropriate for the case to be heard by a hearing adjudicator; and

(b)

the case can effectively be determined by the hearing adjudicator without reference or further reference, as the case may be, to a Visiting Justice.

139 Mode of hearing or reaching decisions

Any hearing or application under any of sections 133 to 138 may be conducted or, as the case requires, determined with all or any of the interested persons participating by way of video link, rather than by being present in person.

139A Mode of hearing or reaching decisions

(1)

This section applies instead of section 139, while the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 is in force.

(2)

Any hearing or application under any of sections 133 to 138 may be conducted or, as the case requires, determined with all or any of the interested persons participating in one of the following ways, rather than by being present in person:

(a)

by video link; or

(b)

if it is not reasonably practicable for the participant to attend in person and video link is unavailable or unable to be used, by audio link unless the hearing adjudicator or Visiting Justice considers that it is contrary to the interests of justice to use audio link.

(3)

To avoid doubt, a motion to determine whether the use of audio link is contrary to the interests of justice may be made by the participant or the hearing adjudicator or Visiting Justice (as the case may be).

(4)

In this section, audio link, in relation to an interested person’s appearance at any proceeding, means facilities that enable audio communication between the interested persons when some or all of them are not physically present at the place of hearing for all or part of the proceeding.

(5)

This section is repealed on the date on which the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 expires or is revoked.

Section 139A: inserted, on 16 May 2020, by section 3 of the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 13).

140 Commencement of penalties

(1)

A penalty imposed under section 133 or section 137—

(a)

commences on the date it is imposed; and

(b)

may not be cumulative on any other penalty imposed under section 133 or section 137.

(2)

Subsection (1)(a) is subject to section 136(6).

Compare: 1954 No 51 ss 33(3), 34(3)

Other offences

141 Unauthorised deliveries, communications, recordings, and possession of unauthorised items

(1)

Subject to subsection (1A), every person commits an offence who, except under the authority of this Act or of any regulations made under this Act or the express authority of the prison manager or the chief executive,—

(a)

brings any thing, or causes any thing to be brought, into a prison, intending that it should come into the possession of a prisoner:

(b)

places any thing, or causes it to be placed, anywhere in a prison (whether inside or outside a building) or outside a prison, intending that it should come into the possession of a prisoner:

(c)

delivers any thing, or causes it to be delivered, to any prisoner inside a prison:

(d)

takes any thing, or causes it to be taken, out of a prison on behalf of a prisoner:

(e)

holds any communication with a prisoner who is inside a prison if that communication may prejudice the maintenance of the law, the safe custody of the prisoner, the well-being of any victim of an offence committed by that prisoner, the safety of any person, or the security of any prison:

(f)

makes any visual recording (whether by photograph, film, videotape, or otherwise) or sound recording of a prisoner if the making of such a recording may prejudice the maintenance of the law, the safe custody of the prisoner, the well-being of any victim of an offence committed by that prisoner, the safety of any person, or the security of any prison:

(g)

without reasonable excuse, has in his or her possession any unauthorised item while in a prison:

(h)

attempts to do any of the things described in paragraphs (a) to (g).

(1A)

Subsection (1)(g) does not apply to a prisoner.

(1B)

A person is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both, who—

(a)

commits an offence against subsection (1)(a), (b), (c), or (g); or

(b)

commits an offence against subsection (1)(h) by attempting to do any thing described in subsection (1)(a), (b), (c), or (g).

(1C)

A person is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, to a fine not exceeding $2,000, or to both, who—

(a)

commits an offence against any of subsection (1)(d) to (f); or

(b)

commits an offence against subsection (1)(h) by attempting to do any thing described in any of subsection (1)(d) to (f).

(2)

Subsection (1)(e) and (f) do not apply to anything done by an officer, staff member, or probation officer in the course of his or her duties.

(3)

Despite anything in subsection (1B) or (1C), if an officer, staff member, or probation officer is convicted of an offence against subsection (1)(a), (b), (c), (d), or (g), or of an attempt to commit any offence of that kind, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both.

(4)

In this section and in sections 142 to 148, person includes—

(a)

a staff member of the prison:

(b)

a security officer:

(c)

a person entering the prison in the course of the person’s employment.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 44(1), (2)

Section 141 heading: amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(1): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(2)(a) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(1): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(2)(b) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(1)(e): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(1)(f): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(4) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(1)(g): replaced, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(5) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(1)(h): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(5) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(1A): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(6) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(1B): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(6) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(1B): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

Section 141(1C): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(6) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(1C): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

Section 141(3): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(7)(a) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141(3): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 25(7)(b) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

141A Unauthorised use or possession of electronic communication device by prisoner

(1)

Every prisoner (whether inside or outside a prison) commits an offence who, except with the express authority of the prison manager or the chief executive,—

(a)

uses an electronic communication device knowing that he or she is not authorised to use it; or

(b)

knowingly has an electronic communication device in his or her possession.

(2)

A prisoner who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both.

Section 141A: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 26 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 141A(2): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

142 Trespassing in, or loitering about, prison

Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, to a fine not exceeding $2,000, or to both who,—

(a)

without reasonable excuse, deliberately trespasses on any land, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it is part of a prison; or

(b)

loiters about a place where prisoners are detained or employed, and refuses or fails to leave after being warned by a constable or a staff member of the prison.

Section 142: amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

Section 142(b): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

143 Restricted communications with, or deliveries to, prisoner outside prison

(1)

Every person commits an offence who, except under the authority of this Act or of any regulations made under this Act,—

(a)

holds or attempts to hold any restricted communication with a prisoner outside a prison under the control of any person, without the permission of the person under whose control the prisoner is; or

(b)

delivers or attempts to deliver, or causes to be delivered, to any prisoner outside a prison under the control of any person any thing, without the permission of the person under whose control the prisoner is.

(2)

Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to any thing done by an officer, staff member, or probation officer in the course of his or her duties.

(2A)

A person who commits an offence against subsection (1)(a) or (b) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, to a fine not exceeding $2,000, or to both.

(2B)

Despite subsection (2A), an officer, staff member, or probation officer who commits an offence against subsection (1)(b) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both.

(3)

In this section restricted communication means—

(a)

any communication that may prejudice the maintenance of the law, the safe custody of the prisoner, the well-being of any victim of an offence committed by that prisoner, the safety of any person, or the security of any prison:

(b)

any communication whatsoever that takes place after the person, in whose control the prisoner is, has forbidden that communication or directed that it cease.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 44(2A), (2B)

Section 143(1): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 27(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 143(2A): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 27(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 143(2A): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

Section 143(2B): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 27(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 143(2B): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

Section 143(3)(a): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 27(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

144 Pretending to be security officer or employee of department

(1)

Every person commits an offence who, not being an employee of the department on whom powers or functions are conferred by this Act or a security officer, by words, conduct, or demeanour,—

(a)

pretends that he or she is an employee of the department with powers or functions under this Act or a security officer; or

(b)

puts on or assumes the dress, name, designation, or description of an employee of the department with powers or functions under this Act or a security officer.

(2)

Every person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, to a fine not exceeding $2,000, or to both.

Section 144(2): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

145 Failure to comply with direction or requirement under section 101(2)

Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any direction or requirement given or made by an officer under section 101(2).

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 21M

Section 145: amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

146 Offences in relation to mail, information, and images

Every person who contravenes section 92C(3), 110A, or 118 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

Section 146: replaced, on 29 October 2019, by section 33 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).

147 Injuring, interfering with, or obstructing dog used for searching

Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to both who, without lawful excuse,—

(a)

injures a dog used or intended to be used for searching under section 97; or

(b)

intentionally interferes with, or obstructs, such a dog.

Section 147: amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

148 Offences in relation to requisitioning

(1)

Every person commits an offence who—

(a)

intentionally fails to comply with any direction given to him or her under section 191; or

(b)

intentionally fails to provide assistance under section 191.

(2)

It is a defence in any proceedings for an offence against subsection (1)(a) if the court is satisfied that the Minister did not have reasonable grounds for believing that in all the circumstances of the case the direction to requisition property was necessary for the safe custody and welfare of prisoners.

(3)

It is a defence in any proceedings for an offence against subsection (1)(b) if the court is satisfied that the person had reasonable grounds for not providing assistance.

(4)

Every person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction,—

(a)

in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both:

(b)

in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $50,000.

Compare: 2002 No 33 ss 101, 104

Section 148(4): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).

149 Power of arrest

Any constable or officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that any person has committed an offence against any of sections 141 to 145, or section 147 or section 148 may arrest that person without warrant.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 44(3)

Section 149: amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

150 Power of seizure

(1)

Any constable or officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that there is any breach by any person of any of sections 141 to 145, or section 147 or section 148 may—

(a)

seize any thing in respect of which he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that the breach has occurred; and

(b)

for the purpose of seizing any photographic film, videotape, other visual recording, or a sound recording, temporarily take possession of any article in which it is contained.

(2)

Anything seized under subsection (1) in respect of which any person is convicted of an offence under any of sections 141 to 145, or section 147 or section 148 is forfeited to the Crown unless the court orders that it be returned to a person who the court considers is entitled to it.

(3)

Anything that is forfeited to the Crown—

(a)

under subsection (2) may, subject to any order of a court, be sold, used, destroyed, or disposed of in any manner that the chief executive directs:

(b)

under any provision of section 133 or 137 may be sold, used, destroyed, or disposed of in any manner that the chief executive directs.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 44(4)

Section 150(1): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 150(3): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 29 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Subpart 6—Complaints, investigations, and inspections

151 Interpretation

In this section and sections 152 to 160, corrections complaints system means the complaints system facilitated by this subpart.

152 Objectives and monitoring of corrections complaints system

(1)

The corrections complaints system has the following objectives:

(a)

to enable complaints by persons who are or were under control or supervision to be dealt with internally on a formal basis:

(b)

to ensure that all persons under control or supervision are aware of the complaints system and are able to make a complaint if and when they choose to do so, without fear of adverse consequences:

(c)

to ensure that complaints are investigated in a fair, timely, and effective manner:

(d)

to ensure that, if possible in the circumstances, complaints are dealt with reasonably promptly:

(e)

to ensure that, if possible in the circumstances, complaints are dealt with at the lowest and most informal level:

(f)

to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to investigate complaints:

(g)

to ensure that complainants are advised of the progress in investigating their complaints:

(h)

to ensure that complaints are, to the extent possible, investigated in a culturally sensitive manner:

(i)

to ensure that the identities of complainants are disclosed only to the extent that it is necessary to assist in the investigation of complaints.

(2)

The complaints system must be monitored frequently and audited to ensure the effectiveness of that system.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 178

153 Prisons, community work centres, and probation offices must have internal complaints system

(1)

In every prison, community work centre, and probation office, there must be an internal complaints system that satisfies the prescribed requirements and that enables complaints to be dealt with internally on a formal basis.

(2)

The prison manager or controlling officer of the community work centre or probation office must ensure that the internal complaints system for that place complies with the objectives set out in section 152.

(3)

Notices must be prominently displayed in each unit in a prison, in each community work centre, and in each place that is staffed permanently as a probation office, that explain—

(a)

the complaints investigation process generally; and

(b)

how persons under control or supervision may obtain forms for requesting interviews or for making formal complaints; and

(c)

the right of persons under control or supervision to request, at any time, assistance from an inspector of corrections or the ombudsmen.

(4)

Notices providing details of an impending visit by an inspector of corrections or an ombudsman must be prominently displayed within each unit in a prison, in each community work centre, and in each place that is staffed permanently as a probation office.

(5)

The controlling officer of a probation area must ensure that persons under control or supervision in that area who are not prisoners or persons required to regularly attend at a community work centre or permanently staffed probation office are given information on the matters referred to in subsection (3)(a) to (c).

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 179

154 Assistance to make complaints

(1)

The chief executive must ensure that a person under control or supervision is given the opportunity to—

(a)

obtain assistance to enable the person to make a complaint; or

(b)

verify any information recorded on a form or other document outlining a complaint.

(2)

The chief executive must ensure that any person who is under control or supervision who has difficulties with verbal or written communication is provided with assistance—

(a)

to complete any required documents; and

(b)

to prepare or present his or her case.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 180

155 Persons under or previously under control or supervision may seek assistance from inspector of corrections

A person who is or was under control or supervision may, at any time, seek assistance from an inspector of corrections for the purpose of making a complaint.

156 Investigation of complaints by inspector of corrections

(1)

An inspector of corrections may investigate a complaint in any manner that the inspector considers appropriate (which may include, without limitation, referring the complaint to another person for consideration).

(2)

While investigating a complaint, an inspector must be given access to—

(a)

any person within the prison (including any Police station to which section 36 applies), community work centre, or probation office, or to any person at any other place (including a dwellinghouse) at which the complainant is or was detained or required to attend, work, or live; and

(b)

any contractor, security contractor, or other person who is or has been responsible for—

(i)

the supervision or oversight of a complainant while the complainant carries or carried out his or her sentence or order; or

(ii)

the monitoring of a complainant while the complainant is or was—

(A)

[Repealed]

(B)

serving a sentence of home detention imposed under section 80A of the Sentencing Act 2002:

(C)

serving a sentence of community detention:

(D)

on parole subject to residential restrictions imposed under section 15 of the Parole Act 2002; or

(iii)

the performance of any escort or courtroom custodial duties in relation to the complainant; and

(c)

any records held by an employee of the department or any other person referred to in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) that are relevant to the complaint (other than personnel records relating to a constable or constables).

(3)

If an inspector investigates a complaint, the inspector must conduct the investigation reasonably promptly, and must inform the complainant and the other persons concerned, promptly after the conclusion of the investigation and in a manner that the inspector considers appropriate, of—

(a)

the result of the investigation; and

(b)

any further action that the inspector proposes to take in respect of the complaint.

(4)

An inspector must keep records of every complaint that the inspector receives and deals with.

Section 156(2)(b)(ii): replaced, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

Section 156(2)(b)(ii)(A): repealed, on 17 December 2016, by section 35 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).

Section 156(2)(c): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

157 Powers of entry and access by inspectors of corrections

(1)

For the purpose of performing any functions as an inspector, an inspector of corrections may, at any time, enter a prison (including any Police station to which section 36 applies), community work centre, probation office, or any other place (including a dwellinghouse) at which a person under control or supervision is or was detained or required to attend, work, live, or from which his or her sentence or any condition of that sentence is or was monitored, and gain access to—

(a)

all parts of that place:

(b)

all persons under control or supervision in that place:

(c)

all persons with responsibility for the control or supervision of those persons in that place, other persons employed in that place, and visitors in that place:

(d)

if the place is a prison, community work centre, or probation office, all records stored in that place (other than personnel records relating to a constable or constables) that relate to—

(i)

the place; or

(ii)

a person who is or was under control or supervision; or

(iii)

a staff member employed at that place.

(2)

For the purpose of performing any functions as an inspector, an inspector of corrections may, at any time, enter any vehicle that is or was being used for the transportation of any person under control or supervision during any period of that person’s detention.

(3)

Despite section 156(2) and subsections (1) and (2) of this section, an inspector—

(a)

must not enter a dwellinghouse without the consent of any person who appears to be the occupier of that dwellinghouse:

(b)

must not enter any part of a place at which a person under control or supervision is required to live, work, or attend (other than the actual part of the place in or at which the person is required to live, work, or attend) without the consent of the person who appears to be the occupier of that place:

(c)

must not enter a vehicle that is not owned or leased by the department, unless the owner or driver of the vehicle consents to that entry.

Section 157(1): amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

Section 157(1)(d): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

158 Interviews with inspectors of corrections

(1)

If an inspector visits a prison, community work centre, probation office, or any other place for the purpose of interviewing persons under control or supervision, all the persons under control or supervision at that place are entitled to an interview with that inspector.

(2)

If an inspector visits a prison, community work centre, probation office, or other place for a purpose other than to interview persons under control or supervision, a person under control or supervision at that place may ask for an interview with the inspector and that inspector may agree to the interview.

(3)

No person under control or supervision may be required to disclose to any person with responsibility for the control or supervision of that person the reason why the person asked for an interview with an inspector.

159 Recommendations and directions of inspectors of corrections

(1)

An inspector of corrections may, either during or following the completion of an investigation,—

(a)

make any recommendations that he or she considers appropriate about practices or procedures to any person who he or she considers is the appropriate person to receive the recommendation:

(b)

issue any direction to a person with responsibilities for the control or supervision of any person that the inspector considers necessary to avoid or reduce any immediate danger to the complainant or any other person.

(2)

A direction given under subsection (1)(b) may be revoked at any time by the chief executive.

(3)

If the chief executive revokes a direction given under subsection (1)(b), the chief executive must promptly inform the Chief Ombudsman of that revocation and the reasons for it.

Protocol

160 Protocol between chief executive and Chief Ombudsman

(1)

The chief executive must enter into an agreement with the Chief Ombudsman about—

(a)

the access to complainants and the places where complainants are required to attend, work, or live, to be given to the ombudsmen:

(b)

access to records relevant to the resolution of those complaints:

(c)

the assistance to be provided by the chief executive to the ombudsmen:

(d)

any other matter that the Chief Ombudsman and the chief executive agree should be included in a protocol.

(2)

Subsection (1) does not limit the powers of the ombudsmen under the Ombudsmen Act 1975.

Subpart 7—Miscellaneous

Other rights of inspection

161 Right of member of Parliament to visit prisons

(1)

Any member of Parliament may, whenever the member considers it appropriate, enter a prison and examine it and the condition of the prisoners, and may inform the prison manager of his or her observations.

(2)

The prison manager must ensure that any observations of a member of Parliament are recorded and that a permanent record of those observations is kept at the prison.

(3)

A member of Parliament is not entitled, under subsection (1), to communicate with any prisoner except in relation to—

(a)

his or her treatment in the prison; or

(b)

a complaint that prisoner makes about that treatment.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 37

162 Right of Justice of the Peace to visit prison

(1)

A Justice of the Peace usually resident in the locality or place where a prison is located may, at all reasonable times, enter that prison and examine the prison and the condition of the prisoners, and may inform the prison manager of his or her observations.

(2)

The prison manager must ensure that any observations of a Justice of the Peace are recorded and that a permanent record of those observations is kept at the prison.

(3)

A Justice of the Peace is not entitled, under subsection (1), to communicate with any prisoner except in relation to—

(a)

his or her treatment in the prison:

(b)

a complaint that the prisoner makes about that treatment.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 38

162A Crimes of Torture Act 1989 not limited

Nothing in this Act limits the operation of Part 2 of the Crimes of Torture Act 1989.

Section 162A: inserted, on 5 December 2006, by section 9 of the Crimes of Torture Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 68).

Identification of certain persons

163 Certain persons to be readily identifiable

For the purposes of this Act and any other enactment, every inspector, officer, probation officer, and security officer must ensure that, when exercising any power or carrying out any other function under this Act or any other enactment, he or she is readily identifiable as an inspector, officer, probation officer, or security officer by means of—

(a)

a uniform or badge worn by him or her; or

(b)

an identification card carried by him or her that must be produced on request.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36X

Provision of information to persons under control or supervision

164 Provision of information to persons under control or supervision

(1)

This section applies to any information that is required by this Act, or any regulations made under this Act, to be given to a person under control or supervision.

(2)

Information to which this section applies must be presented in such a way that the person under control or supervision can be reasonably expected to understand it.

(3)

If any information additional to, or different from, any information initially presented to a person under control or supervision in accordance with subsection (2) becomes available, the manager of the prison in which the person under control or supervision is detained or the person who is responsible for that person’s supervision must arrange for that additional or different information to be presented in accordance with that subsection reasonably promptly.

Compare: SR 2000/81 r 37

Health records

Heading: replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 38 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

165 Health records

(1)

Every medical officer must ensure that an adequate record of the health care or treatment provided by that officer to a prisoner at a prison is maintained and kept securely and not treated as part of the prison records for that prisoner or former prisoner, as the case may be.

(2)

Every health centre manager must ensure that—

(a)

an adequate record of the health care or treatment provided to a prisoner at a prison is maintained; and

(b)

full health records (including dental records of prisoners or former prisoners at the prison) are kept securely; and

(c)

the health record of any prisoner or former prisoner at the prison is not treated as part of the prison records of that prisoner or former prisoner, as the case may be.

Section 165: replaced, on 4 June 2013, by section 38 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Escort services and courtroom custodial services

166 Provision of escort services or courtroom custodial services under contract

(1)

The chief executive may, in the name and on behalf of the Crown, enter into any contract with any other person for the provision, by that other person, of escort services, courtroom custodial services, or both.

(2)

The chief executive must not, without the prior written consent of the Minister in each case,—

(a)

enter into any security contract; or

(b)

agree to any extension of the term of any security contract.

(3)

Nothing in this section limits or affects the power of the chief executive—

(a)

to enter into arrangements with other government agencies for the provision, by those agencies, of escort services, courtroom custodial services, or both; or

(b)

to employ persons to undertake escort duties, courtroom custodial duties, or both.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36G

167 Requirements of security contracts

(1)

Every security contract must specify the particular escort duties or, as the case requires, the particular courtroom custodial duties that are to be carried out by security officers under the contract.

(2)

Every security contract must provide for—

(a)

objectives and performance standards (which standards must not be any lower than any relevant standards applicable to employees of the department) for the security contractor in relation to—

(i)

the carrying out of the obligations of the security contractor under the contract; and

(ii)

the treatment of the persons in respect of whom escort duties or courtroom custodial duties are carried out under the contract; and

(b)

the employment by the security contractor of sufficient suitable persons to carry out the security contractor’s statutory and contractual obligations in respect of the security contract; and

(c)

the training to be provided, at the expense of the security contractor, to security officers employed by the security contractor, which training must be—

(i)

to the standard appropriate for the particular position; and

(ii)

to a standard no lower than the standard of training received by any security officers employed by the chief executive; and

(d)

the co-ordination of services and processes of the security contractor with those of the department, the Police, other government agencies, and other security contractors; and

(e)

the arranging and maintenance, by the security contractor, of adequate insurance against the security contractor’s liability for claims arising out of, or in connection with, the security contract; and

(f)

the termination of the contract for breach of contract; and

(g)

the avoidance of conflicts of interest that might arise in relation to the exercise or performance, by the security contractor or any security officer employed by the security contractor, of any power, duty, or function conferred or imposed by or under the security contract or by or under this Act or by or under any regulations made under this Act.

(3)

Every security contract must impose on the security contractor, in relation to the provision of services under the contract, a duty to—

(a)

comply with the requirements of this Act, any regulations made under this Act, and any instructions issued under section 196 in so far as those requirements are applicable to the services to be provided by the security contractor under the contract, and take into account any guidelines issued under section 196; and

(b)

comply with the requirements of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, as if the security contractor and any security officers employed by the security contractor were employees of the chief executive; and

(c)

comply with the requirements of sections 73 and 74 of the Public Service Act 2020 (which relate to good employer and equal employment policies), as if the security contractor were the chief executive of a department within the meaning of that Act.

(4)

A security contract may contain any other provision that is agreed between the chief executive and the security contractor that is not inconsistent with—

(a)

this Act; or

(b)

any regulations made under this Act.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36H

Section 167(3)(c): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

168 Liability of security contractors

(1)

The Crown is entitled to be indemnified by a security contractor—

(a)

against any claim arising out of any act or omission of the security contractor or the security contractor’s employees or agents and for which the Crown is held liable (in whole or in part); and

(b)

for any act or omission of the security contractor or the security contractor’s employees or agents that results in damage to, or loss of, any property of the Crown.

(2)

For the purposes of determining the liability of the Crown or the security contractor for any act or omission of a security contractor or a security contractor’s employees or agents, neither the security contractor nor the security contractor’s employees or agents are to be treated as agents of the Crown.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36Z

169 Subcontractors

(1)

A security contractor may subcontract any of the security contractor’s responsibilities under a security contract only with the prior written approval of the chief executive and only to the extent permitted by any approval, which approval may be granted subject to any conditions that the chief executive considers appropriate.

(2)

If, with the approval of the chief executive, any responsibility of a security contractor is subcontracted to any person, the provisions of this Act and of any regulations made under this Act and of any instructions and guidelines issued under section 196, in so far as those provisions relate to that responsibility, apply to that subcontractor as if that subcontractor were the security contractor.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36ZB

170 Security contracts to be notified in Gazette

(1)

Reasonably promptly after a security contract is entered into under section 166, the Minister must notify the making of the contract in the Gazette.

(2)

Reasonably promptly after a security contract is varied or renewed, the Minister must notify the variation or renewal of the contract in the Gazette.

171 Reporting responsibilities

(1)

If there is any variation of the controlling interests in a security contractor, that security contractor must promptly give notice of that variation to the chief executive and to the security monitor appointed in respect of that security contractor under section 172(1).

(2)

A security contractor must, at those intervals (not exceeding 3 months) that are determined by the chief executive, arrange for written reports on the following matters to be forwarded to the chief executive and to the security monitor appointed in respect of that security contractor under section 172(1):

(a)

the training provided to security officers employed by the security contractor (including the amount and quality of that training), and the level of training achieved by those security officers:

(b)

the number and nature of complaints made by persons in relation to the carrying out, by security officers employed by that security contractor, of escort duties or courtroom custodial duties in respect of those persons, and how those complaints were resolved:

(c)

the number and nature of any incidents involving—

(i)

violence by or against prisoners while in the custody of security officers employed by that security contractor:

(ii)

violence against security officers employed by that security contractor while carrying out escort duties or courtroom custodial duties:

(iii)

self-inflicted injuries to prisoners while in the custody of security officers employed by that security contractor:

(d)

the compliance, by security officers employed by that security contractor, with the requirements of sections 83, 84, 85, 87, and 88:

(e)

the exercise, by security officers employed by that security contractor, of the powers conferred by sections 98 and 101 in order to perform the functions of security officers:

(f)

the number and nature of any disciplinary actions taken against security officers employed by that security contractor, and the reasons for, and the outcomes of, those actions, including any penalties imposed:

(g)

any other matters in respect of which the chief executive reasonably considers that information is necessary to enable the chief executive to carry out his or her responsibilities under this Act or under any other enactment.

(3)

A security contractor must arrange for a written report on an occurrence of any of the following to be prepared and forwarded to the chief executive and to the security monitor appointed in respect of that security contractor under section 172(1) promptly after it occurs:

(a)

any escape or attempted escape by any prisoner while that prisoner was in the custody of any security officer employed by that security contractor:

(b)

the death of any prisoner while in the custody of any security officer employed by that security contractor.

(4)

Nothing in subsections (1) to (3) limits any other duty to report that is imposed by or under any security contract or by or under any other provision of this Act or any other enactment.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36ZC

172 Security monitors

(1)

The chief executive must appoint under the Public Service Act 2020 as many persons as security monitors as are required for the purposes of this Act and each person appointed as a security monitor must be appointed in respect of a particular security contractor.

(2)

The security monitor appointed in respect of that security contractor—

(a)

is responsible to the chief executive for the assessment and review of the carrying out, by that security contractor, of that contractor’s obligations under the security contract; and

(b)

must report to the chief executive at the intervals (not exceeding 3 months) that the chief executive determines, and at any other time that the security monitor considers appropriate, on—

(i)

the carrying out, by that security contractor, of that contractor’s obligations under the security contract; and

(ii)

whether or not that security contractor is complying with that contractor’s security contract and with the provisions of this Act, any regulations made under this Act, and any instructions issued under section 196 and is taking into account any guidelines issued under section 196.

(3)

Any security monitor may, at any time that he or she considers appropriate, make recommendations to the chief executive on any matters relating to security contracts that the monitor considers appropriate.

(4)

The office of security monitor may be combined with any other office, appointment, or position if the chief executive is satisfied that the duties of that other office, appointment, or position are not incompatible with the duties of a security monitor.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36ZD

Section 172(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

173 Access must be given

(1)

Every security contractor must ensure that any security monitor has free and unfettered access at all times to—

(a)

all prisoners who are under the control of security officers employed by that contractor; and

(b)

all security officers employed by that security contractor, but only when they are actually on duty; and

(c)

all records held by the security contractor and that relate to—

(i)

any person who is or has been in the control of any security officer employed by that security contractor; or

(ii)

any person who is or has been employed by that security contractor as a security officer.

(2)

Despite subsection (1), a security monitor may not be given access to any medical records relating to any person referred to in subsection (1) unless the person concerned consents to that access.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36ZE

174 Security monitors must report on certain matters

(1)

For the purposes of each report to the chief executive under section 172(2), the security monitor appointed in respect of a security contractor under section 172(1) must review the following matters:

(a)

the procedures in place to assess—

(i)

the suitability of persons for appointment or engagement under section 17(2) by the security contractor; and

(ii)

the ongoing suitability of persons so appointed or engaged:

(b)

the matters in respect of which the security monitor is entitled to receive a report under section 171(2) or (3).

(2)

Without limiting section 172(2), the security monitor appointed in respect of a security contractor under section 172(1) may, at the request of the chief executive or on the security monitor’s own initiative,—

(a)

investigate any matter relating to the carrying out, by that security contractor, of that security contractor’s obligations under the relevant security contract; and

(b)

report to the chief executive the results of that examination.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36ZF

Application of other Acts

175 Application of Ombudsmen Act 1975 and Official Information Act 1982 to contract prisons, security contractors, and security officers

(1)

For the purposes of the Ombudsmen Act 1975 and the Official Information Act 1982, every contract prison is to be treated as part of the department.

(2)

In relation to the carrying out of escort duties and courtroom custodial duties under this Act, every security contractor, and every security officer employed by a security contractor, is to be treated, for the purposes of the Ombudsmen Act 1975 and the Official Information Act 1982, as an employee of the department.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 41C

176 Application of New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 to contract prisons, security contractors, and security officers

(1)

For the purposes of section 3 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, acts done by staff members of a contract prison are to be treated as acts done by the executive branch of the Government of New Zealand.

(2)

In relation to the carrying out of escort duties and courtroom custodial duties under this Act, acts done by security contractors, or security officers employed by security contractors, are to be treated, for the purposes of section 3 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, as acts done by the executive branch of the Government of New Zealand.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 41E

177 Application of Public Works Act 1981

For the purposes of the Public Works Act 1981, the construction, management, operation, and maintenance of a prison or community work centre, including the acquisition of land and buildings, or an estate or interest in land, for that purpose, is a Government work and a public work within the meaning of that Act, whether or not the prison or community work centre, or proposed prison or community work centre, is, or is to be, constructed, managed, operated, or maintained by the Crown.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 41D

178 Application of Resource Management Act 1991

For the purposes of Part 8 of the Resource Management Act 1991, the construction, management, operation, and maintenance of a prison (other than a Police jail) or community work centre is to be treated as a public work for which the Minister has financial responsibility, whether or not the prison or community work centre, or proposed prison or community work centre, is, or is to be, constructed, managed, operated, or maintained by the Crown.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 41F

179 Application of certain Acts to various office holders

No person is deemed to be employed in the service of the Crown for the purposes of the Public Service Act 2020 or the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 by reason only—

(a)

of that person’s appointment or engagement under section 11(2) or (4), section 17(2), or section 24(2); or

(b)

that the person has entered into a prison management contract; or

(c)

that the person has entered into a security contract under section 166.

Compare: 1954 No 51 ss 4D, 6(7), 36I(3), 36ZA; 1985 No 120 s 124(5)

Section 179: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Section 179(b): amended, on 8 December 2009, by section 8(1) of the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 59).

Status of certain rules and regulations relating to smoking in prisons

Heading: inserted, on 5 March 2013, by section 39 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

179AA Status of certain rules and regulations relating to smoking in prisons

(1)

On and from 12 February 2013, the following rules and regulations must be treated as if they were made after Part 3 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 came into force:

(a)

any rule made before 12 February 2013 by a prison manager under section 33 that forbids prisoners to smoke tobacco or any other substance, or forbids prisoners to possess tobacco or any tobacco-related item; and

(b)

regulations 4 and 6 of the Corrections Amendment Regulations 2012.

(2)

On and from 12 February 2013, no proceedings may be brought against the Crown questioning the validity of any rules or regulations referred to in subsection (1).

(3)

Nothing in this section affects proceedings commenced before 12 February 2013 to the extent that any relief sought or granted in those proceedings relates only to the period before 12 February 2013.

Section 179AA: inserted, on 5 March 2013, by section 39 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).

Emergency management

Heading: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 30 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

179A Detention of prisoners eligible for release during outbreak or spread of infectious disease

(1)

A prisoner who is eligible for release under the Parole Act 2002 may be detained beyond his or her statutory release date in any part of the prison if that detention is pursuant to any order or requirement under section 70 or 79 of the Health Act 1956.

(2)

In this section, statutory release date has the meaning given to it in section 4(1) of the Parole Act 2002.

Section 179A: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 30 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

179B No compensation for detention in prison under Health Act 1956

(1)

To avoid doubt, the Crown is not liable to make a payment to or otherwise compensate any person in respect of any detention in a prison if that detention is pursuant to any order or requirement under the Health Act 1956.

(2)

This section does not—

(a)

limit section 179E or 195 or any other enactment dealing with liability or the payment of compensation; or

(b)

affect any cause of action relating to unlawful arrest or detention.

Section 179B: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 30 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

179C Interpretation

In this section and sections 179D and 179E, unless the context otherwise requires,—

act or omission means any act or omission described in section 179E(1)(a)

epidemic emergency affecting a prison or prisoners means an epidemic—

(a)

that occurs while an epidemic notice is in force; and

(b)

in respect of which the chief executive reasonably believes that the corrections system is no longer able to fulfil its purpose in section 5(1)(a) in relation to the prison or prisoners affected

epidemic notice means a notice under section 5 of the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006

failure means any failure described in section 179E(1)(b)

prison emergency means an emergency—

(a)

affecting the safety or health of the prisoners or any class or group of prisoners, or the security of the prison; and

(b)

in respect of which the chief executive reasonably believes that the corrections system is no longer able to fulfil its purpose in section 5(1)(a) in relation to the prison or prisoners affected

regulations means regulations made under section 200

state of emergency affecting a prison or prisoners means a state of emergency—

(a)

within the meaning of section 4 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002; and

(b)

in respect of which the chief executive reasonably believes that the corrections system is no longer able to fulfil its purpose in section 5(1)(a) in relation to the prison or prisoners affected.

Section 179C: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 30 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

179D Notification of emergency

(1)

The chief executive must notify the Minister within 7 days of determining the existence of—

(a)

an epidemic emergency affecting a prison or prisoners; or

(b)

a prison emergency; or

(c)

a state of emergency affecting a prison or prisoners.

(2)

A notice under subsection (1) must—

(a)

be in writing and signed by the chief executive; and

(b)

state the date on which it is signed; and

(c)

state the nature of the emergency that exists; and

(d)

specify the actions taken to date in respect of the emergency; and

(e)

specify any action proposed to be taken to enable the corrections system to fulfil its purpose in section 5(1)(a).

(3)

The chief executive must notify the Minister within 7 days of determining that the emergency no longer exists.

(4)

A notice under subsection (3) must—

(a)

be in writing and signed by the chief executive; and

(b)

state the date on which it is signed; and

(c)

specify the actions taken in respect of the emergency.

Section 179D: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 30 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

179E Exclusion of liability while epidemic notice in force or during emergency

(1)

There is no cause of action against the Crown, a Minister of the Crown, an officer or employee of a Minister of the Crown, the chief executive, an employee of the department, a contractor, or an independent contractor, to recover damages for any harm or loss that is due directly or indirectly to—

(a)

any act or omission by any person that occurs while carrying out his or her functions or duties or exercising his or her powers under a provision of this Act or the regulations that has been modified by Order in Council under the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 while an epidemic notice is in force; or

(b)

any failure by any person to comply (or comply fully) with any provision of this Act or the regulations if—

(i)

the failure occurs during an epidemic emergency affecting a prison or prisoners, a prison emergency, or a state of emergency affecting a prison or prisoners; and

(ii)

it is impossible or unreasonable in the circumstances to comply (or comply fully) with this Act or the regulations.

(2)

A person is not exempt from liability under subsection (1) if the act or omission, or failure, constitutes bad faith or gross negligence on the part of that person.

(3)

A person may apply to the High Court for leave to bring proceedings against any person referred to in subsection (1) on the ground that the act or omission, or failure, constitutes bad faith or gross negligence on the part of that person.

(4)

The court must not grant leave unless it is satisfied that there are grounds for the contention that the act or omission, or failure, constitutes bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the person against whom proceedings are sought to be brought.

(5)

An application for leave under subsection (3) must be made—

(a)

within 2 years after the act or omission, or failure, to which the application relates; or

(b)

in the case of a continuance of injury or damage, within 2 years after the ceasing of the injury or damage.

(6)

Nothing in this section—

(a)

prevents the Crown from making any ex gratia payment it considers justifiable on the basis of hardship or fairness:

(b)

limits the operation of section 104 of the Public Service Act 2020:

(c)

affects any cause of action relating to unlawful arrest or detention.

Section 179E: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 30 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 179E(6)(b): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).

Disclosure of prisoner information

Heading: replaced, on 9 April 2008, by section 5 of the Corrections (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 24).

180 Purpose of section 180A

(1)

The purpose of section 180A is to facilitate the disclosure of information, by the chief executive to the requesting department, for the purposes of the operation of all or any of the following provisions:

(a)

section 217(1) of the Social Security Act 2018 (under which a benefit is, in general, not payable in respect of any period during which a beneficiary is imprisoned or detained in, or is an escaper from, a prison, pursuant to a sentence of imprisonment):

(b)

regulations made under section 444 of the Social Security Act 2018 (which provide for the recovery, including by way of deductions, of debts due to the Crown):

(c)

clause 6 of Schedule 9 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (which provides for the recovery of debts in respect of the payment to a person of allowances, student loans, or other money to which he or she was not, or is no longer, entitled):

(d)

regulation 28 of the Student Allowances Regulations 1998 (under which a student imprisoned or detained in a prison, pursuant to a sentence of imprisonment is not entitled to receive any payment under those regulations in respect of any period of any such imprisonment):

(e)

section 180C.

(2)

Requesting department, in subsection (1) and sections 180A and 180C, means—

(a)

the department for the time being responsible for the administration of the Social Security Act 2018, in relation to information requested for the purposes of the operation of a provision of that Act:

(b)

the department for the time being responsible for the administration of Schedule 9 of the Education and Training Act 2020, in relation to information requested for the purposes of clause 6 of Schedule 9 of that Act, or regulation 28 of the Student Allowances Regulations 1998.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36F

Section 180: replaced, on 9 April 2008, by section 5 of the Corrections (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 24).

Section 180(1)(a): replaced, on 26 November 2018, by section 459 of the Social Security Act 2018 (2018 No 32).

Section 180(1)(b): replaced, on 26 November 2018, by section 459 of the Social Security Act 2018 (2018 No 32).

Section 180(1)(c): amended, on 1 August 2020, by section 668 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (2020 No 38).

Section 180(2)(a): amended, on 26 November 2018, by section 459 of the Social Security Act 2018 (2018 No 32).

Section 180(2)(b): amended, on 1 August 2020, by section 668 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (2020 No 38).

180A Prisoner information may be disclosed for social assistance purposes

(1)

For the purpose stated in section 180, the chief executive of the requesting department may from time to time request the chief executive to supply all or any information specified in section 180B in respect of prisoners detained in a prison during the period specified in the request.

(2)

A request under subsection (1) must be made in writing and in accordance with arrangements made from time to time between—

(a)

the chief executive; and

(b)

the chief executive of the requesting department.

(3)

On receipt of a request made under subsection (1) the chief executive may supply the information requested to any person who is—

(a)

an officer or employee of the requesting department; and

(b)

authorised for the purpose by the chief executive of the requesting department.

(4)

On or after 1 December 2020, no information may be disclosed under this section except under—

(a)

an information matching agreement entered into under Part 10 of the Privacy Act 1993 and continued by clause 11 of Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 2020; or

(b)

an approved information sharing agreement entered into under subpart 1 of Part 7 of the Privacy Act 2020.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36F

Section 180A: inserted, on 9 April 2008, by section 5 of the Corrections (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 24).

Section 180A(4): inserted, on 1 December 2020, by section 190 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

180B Information that may be requested and disclosed

The information referred to in section 180A(1) is, for each prisoner detained in a prison during the period specified in the request,—

(a)

a sufficient amount of biographical information to identify the prisoner; and

(b)

the name of the prison in which the prisoner is or was detained during that period; and

(c)

details of each period of detention of the prisoner in the prison during the period specified in the request.

Compare: 1954 No 51 s 36F

Section 180B: inserted, on 9 April 2008, by section 5 of the Corrections (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 24).

180C Social assistance may be suspended immediately if discrepancy discovered

(1)

The chief executive of the requesting department may suspend immediately the payment to a person of the benefits, allowances, and student loans, or any of them, payable to the person if—

(a)

information has been disclosed to the requesting department under section 180A; and

(b)

a discrepancy relating or apparently relating to the person arises, or is identified in that information; and

(c)

that chief executive wishes, on the basis of that discrepancy, to effect the suspension; and

(d)

immediately after the suspension is effected, the requesting department gives the person written notice of the kind specified in section 180D.

(2)

In this section and section 180D,—

adverse action has the same meaning as in section 177 of the Privacy Act 2020

allowance means an allowance established (whether established for the first time or continued) by regulations made under section 645 of the Education and Training Act 2020

benefit has the same meaning as in Schedule 2 of the Social Security Act 2018

discrepancy has the same meaning as in section 177 of the Privacy Act 2020

student loan has the meaning given to it by section 4(1) of the Student Loan Scheme Act 2011

working day has the same meaning as in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020.

(3)

A notice under subsection (1) may also be used to give the person concerned notice under section 181 of the Privacy Act 2020 in relation to some proposed adverse action other than the suspension or suspensions concerned; but in that case that section applies to the taking of that action.

(4)

Subsection (1) overrides section 181 of the Privacy Act 2020.

(5)

Nothing in this section prevents any adverse action from being taken in respect of benefits, allowances, or student loans in accordance with section 181 of the Privacy Act 2020 instead of this section.

Section 180C: inserted, on 9 April 2008, by section 5 of the Corrections (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 24).

Section 180C(2) adverse action: amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 180C(2) allowance: amended, on 1 August 2020, by section 668 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (2020 No 38).

Section 180C(2) benefit: amended, on 26 November 2018, by section 459 of the Social Security Act 2018 (2018 No 32).

Section 180C(2) discrepancy: amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 180C(2) student loan: amended, on 1 April 2012, by section 223 of the Student Loan Scheme Act 2011 (2011 No 62).

Section 180(2) working day: amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 180C(3): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 180C(4): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 180C(5): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

180D Notice required by section 180C(1)(d)

(1)

A notice required by section 180C(1)(d)—

(a)

must specify particulars of—

(i)

the discrepancy or discrepancies concerned; and

(ii)

the suspension or suspensions concerned; and

(b)

must state that the person concerned may, after the receipt of the notice, show cause why payments of any benefit, allowance, or student loan should not have been suspended.

(2)

A notice required by section 180C(1)(d) must be delivered to the person concerned—

(a)

personally; or

(b)

by leaving it at the person’s usual or last known place of residence or business or at the address specified by the person in any application or other document received from the person; or

(c)

by posting it in a letter addressed to the person at that place of residence or business or at that address.

(3)

If a notice required to be given under section 180C(1)(d) is sent to a person by post,—

(a)

the notice must, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be taken to have been delivered to that person on the fourth day after the day on which it was posted; and

(b)

in proving the delivery it is sufficient to prove that the letter was properly addressed and posted.

Section 180D: inserted, on 9 April 2008, by section 5 of the Corrections (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 24).

Disclosure of offender information

Heading: inserted, on 9 April 2008, by section 6 of the Corrections (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 24).

181 Offender information may be disclosed for immigration purposes

(1)

The purpose of this section is to facilitate the disclosure of information by the department to the department of State for the time being responsible for the administration of the Immigration Act 2009 (the responsible department), for the purpose of assisting the Minister of Immigration or an immigration officer to exercise any power conferred by that Act to determine whether a person is liable for deportation or to deport any person.

(2)

For the purpose of this section, the chief executive may from time to time, in accordance with arrangements in writing made from time to time between the chief executive and the Chief Executive of the responsible department,—

(a)

supply to the Chief Executive of the responsible department the information specified in subsection (3) in respect of persons who have been sentenced to imprisonment:

(ab)

if the chief executive is authorised by regulations made under this Act to do so, supply to the Chief Executive of the responsible department the information specified in subsection (3) in respect of persons who have received a sentence of home detention:

(b)

(3)

The information referred to in subsection (2) is as follows:

(a)

identifying information about the person:

(b)

details of the person’s offence and sentence (including relevant dates such as the date on which the person is eligible or entitled to be released).

(4)

The chief executive may supply the information specified in subsection (3) to any immigration officer or other officer or employee of the responsible department who is authorised in that behalf by the Chief Executive of the responsible department.

(5)

Information supplied under subsection (4) may be supplied in any form that is determined by agreement between the Chief Executive of the responsible department and the chief executive.

(5A)

On or after 1 December 2020, no information may be supplied under this section except under—

(a)

an information matching agreement entered into under Part 10 of the Privacy Act 1993 and continued by clause 11 of Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 2020; or

(b)

an approved information sharing agreement entered into under subpart 1 of Part 7 of the Privacy Act 2020.

(6)

In this section identifying information in relation to any person includes the person’s full name, date and place of birth, gender, location, citizenship, unique identifying number used by the department, and any known alias.

Section 181(1): replaced, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

Section 181(2): amended, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

Section 181(2)(a): amended, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

Section 181(2)(ab): inserted, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

Section 181(2)(ab): amended, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

Section 181(2)(b): amended, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

Section 181(4): amended, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

Section 181(5): amended, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

Section 181(5A): inserted, on 1 December 2020, by section 190 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Information sharing about highest-risk offenders

Heading: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 31 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

181A Disclosure of information relating to highest-risk offenders

(1)

A specified agency that enters into an information sharing agreement under section 182D (as modified by subsection (5)) with another specified agency is authorised to disclose to that agency any personal information about a highest-risk offender, but only if the disclosure is for, or relates to, a purpose listed in subsection (3).

(2)

Nothing in subsection (1) limits the operation of the Privacy Act 2020 or section 182 of this Act.

(3)

The purposes for which personal information about highest-risk offenders may be disclosed under an information sharing agreement between specified agencies are—

(a)

to assist the monitoring of compliance of highest-risk offenders with their conditions of release:

(b)

to assist in facilitating the rehabilitation of highest-risk offenders:

(c)

to facilitate the reintegration of highest-risk offenders into the community:

(d)

to manage the risk that the offender may commit further offences:

(e)

to identify any increased risk that the offender may breach his or her conditions or will commit further offences.

(4)

For the purposes of this section,—

highest-risk offender means any offender whom the chief executive considers, having regard, among other matters, to the nature and seriousness of his or her offending, to be included in the class of offenders who pose the highest risk to public safety

specified agency means—

(a)

the Department of Corrections:

(b)

the New Zealand Police:

(c)

any public sector agency (as that term is defined in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020) that the Minister of Justice, after consultation with the Privacy Commissioner, identifies as a specified agency for the purposes of this section by notice in the Gazette.

(5)

Sections 182D and 182E apply to information sharing agreements about highest-risk offenders as if every reference in those sections to a child sex offender were a reference to a highest-risk offender.

(6)

Information disclosed for the purposes of this section may be disclosed prior to the offender’s release from prison.

(7)

This section does not limit or affect any information sharing agreement under section 182D in relation to a child sex offender who is also a highest-risk offender.

Section 181A: inserted, on 3 April 2009, by section 31 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 181A(2): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 181A(4) specified agency paragraph (c): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

182 Offender information may be disclosed to facilitate monitoring of persons on temporary release

(1)

The purpose of this section is—

(a)

to facilitate the disclosure of information by the department to the Commissioner of Police, to assist the monitoring of compliance by persons on temporary release with the conditions of their temporary release.

(b)

[Repealed]

(2)

For the purpose of this section, the chief executive may, from time to time, in accordance with arrangements made from time to time between the Commissioner of Police and the chief executive, supply the information specified in subsection (3) to any constable.

(3)

The information referred to in subsection (2) is as follows:

(a)

in the case of any person released on temporary release under section 62—

(i)

the date of temporary release of the person, and the place from which the person was released:

(ii)

the conditions of the person’s temporary release (whether imposed on release or imposed subsequently).

(b)

[Repealed]

(4)

[Repealed]

(5)

Information supplied under subsection (2) may be supplied in any form that is determined by agreement between the Commissioner of Police and the chief executive.

(6)

[Repealed]

Section 182 heading: amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 32(1) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 182(1)(b): repealed, on 3 April 2009, by section 32(2) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 182(2): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 182(3)(b): repealed, on 3 April 2009, by section 32(3) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 182(4): repealed, on 3 April 2009, by section 32(4) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 182(5): amended, on 3 April 2009, by section 32(5) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Section 182(6): repealed, on 3 April 2009, by section 32(6) of the Corrections Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 3).

Information sharing about child sex offenders

Heading: inserted, on 7 July 2004, by section 14(5) of the Parole (Extended Supervision) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 67).

182A Information sharing about child sex offenders

(1)

A specified agency that enters into an information sharing agreement under section 182D with another specified agency is authorised to disclose to that agency any personal information about a child sex offender, but only if the disclosure is for, or relates to, a purpose listed in subsection (3).

(2)

Nothing in subsection (1) limits the operation of the Privacy Act 2020 or section 182 of this Act.

(3)

The purposes for which personal information about a child sex offender may be disclosed under an information sharing agreement between specified agencies are:

(a)

to monitor compliance by the child sex offender with his or her release conditions (including conditions imposed under section 93 of the Sentencing Act 2002), conditions of a sentence of supervision, intensive supervision, community detention, or home detention (imposed under section 80A of the Sentencing Act 2002), post-detention conditions of a sentence of home detention, conditions of an extended supervision order, restrictions related to a public protection order under the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014, or requirements of a protective supervision order under the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014:

(b)

to manage the risk that the offender may commit further sexual offences against children:

(c)

to identify any increased risk that the offender may breach his or her conditions or will commit further sexual offences against children:

(d)

to facilitate the reintegration of the offender into the community.

(4)

Information disclosed for the purposes of this section may be disclosed prior to the offender’s release from prison.

Section 182A: inserted, on 7 July 2004, by section 14(5) of the Parole (Extended Supervision) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 67).

Section 182A(2): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).

Section 182A(3)(a): replaced, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

Section 182A(3)(a): amended, on 17 December 2016, by section 36 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).

Section 182A(3)(a): amended, on 14 October 2016, by section 57 of the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Act 2016 (2016 No 42).

Section 182A(4): inserted, on 3 April 2009, by

List of access keys

Corrections Act 2004

Corrections Act 2004

Note

Contents

1 Title

Part 1 Preliminary provisions

2 Commencement

3 Interpretation

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(a)

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(b)

(i)

(ii)

(c)

(d)

(i)

(ii)

(a)

(i)

(ii)

(b)

(a)

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(i)

(ii)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(i)

(ii)

(a)

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)