I am sure anyone would agree that yesterday’s ombudsman report into the performance, progress and concerns within Corrections was, to say the very least, damming.
Ombudsman, Peter Boshier, said “The Department needs to see the recommendations and suggestions for what they are – opportunities for change”, which clearly says please listen.
I, myself have said to senior management within corrections, “my comments or discussion is a suggestion for change, I am not a threat, simply a friend”.
I can sit here repeating myself day after day, calling for change, highlighting the concerns, calling people or management out, achieving what?
For me this blog is about starting a discussion on real change and putting real proven ideas out there that will work so we are still not be discussing this in years to come.
We have been observing and watching, Sweden and the Norway corrections system succeed for many years. A system that is not only humane, treating prisoners with dignity, but also a system that is successfully working.
A country that has a population similar to that of Aotearoa, with a reoffending rate a quarter of ours and a falling crime rate overall.
I suggest that not only will implementing the above-described European system start fixing a currently unrepairable government department, but it will also head Aotearoa towards a positive sustainable criminal justice system for the next century putting Aotearoa in a leadership role where we belong and have proven we are capable of many times.
I believe the time has come, albeit too late, for the minister to remove the problems from within the departments he oversees, starting at the top, implementing policies that will work and engaging people that not only listen but also perform.
Jackie Foster
CEO
Social Justice Aotearoa
Corrections needs change from top to bottom. Davis managed to get rid of Serco from Mount Eden but it is clear the replacement is, at best, no better. Where is Davis now – hiding and avoiding doing anything meaningful to make positive change. Is that because he doesnt want to or has no idea how to?
Corrections staff do quite a good job of preventing escapes and, while that is important, there is so much else that should be done. It is time to change the way Corrections think about their role so it extends beyond security – not just words but real action. That will only happen with significant cultural change from the minister down.
Jackie you highlight some real ideas that you have tabled before. Sweden is a world leader in justice and reducing crime.
Helen Clark is still actively promoting this but our politicians are more interested in throwing away the key rather than considering logical proven ideas.
We all need to remember that the main reason we have such a ballooning prison population is not only because of yes rising crime, it has a great deal to do with a man called Garth McVicar and his rant for so called justice 20 years ago.
McVicar jumped into bed with Judith Collins and warmed them all up to stupid unthought out politics not understanding the consequences.
McVicar road the sympathy wave for years not giving a toss about the cost to our country and never once thinking about the end result being so screwed up it’s not funny.
Remember who McVicar also rolled with? Yip David Garrett, the politician that got the boot because he himself committed fraud stealing a babies name from a cemetery to create a fake passport and absolute disgrace but the Sensible Sentencing Trust lapped him up.
I’m sorry but McVicar, Garrett, Judith Collins and a lot of other politicians need to be held responsible as well as our current government.
Would love your thoughts Jackie.
Keep blogging it’s enjoyable.
Thank you Jackie.
I applaud your comments in every sense.
As a country we need to start asking questions around the performance of our ministers portfolios. We all need to remember that these people are paid huge salaries, and perks, by the tax payer to preform and if it was you or I and we weren’t performing, we would be gone.
i have always been amazed how over the last 6 years Davis’s portfolios are the worst preforming, in the headlines every other week for all the wrong reasons but we have never hear either of our prime minister say a word.
You rightly say, “if only the executive of departments would take comments as constructive discussion, where people are trying to help, we would be way better off.
Ill be interested how long Lightfoot last for, because surly he wont survive this shambolic mess.
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