Citation

Sullivan T, McDonald M, Thomson ST. Aust. N. Zeal. J. Criminol. 2016; 49(3): 405-421.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0004865815575398

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In New Zealand, the number of offenders who continue to commit crime after leaving prison or completing community-based sentences is high, with the likelihood of reoffending much higher for Māori. The Police, Iwi (Māori tribe) and the Department of Corrections (the New Zealand Government agency responsible for prisons and correctional facilities, community probation, and parole services) have set clear goals to reduce the level of crime and the rate of reoffending. A decrease in reoffending will benefit society in terms of reduced costs to the justice system, less crime, safer communities and fewer victims. There is growing international evidence that offender case management is effective at reducing reoffending. The collaborative approach brings together representatives from the justice system, local authorities and other organisations to work alongside offenders who are due for release from prison. This article presents the results of Project Kete, a joint initiative between A3K (an organisation that provides support for Māori clients), the Police and the Department of Corrections. Sixteen high-risk Māori offenders nearing the end of their sentences received intensive support and supervision to help them reintegrate into the community. The results are encouraging. All 16 offenders remained out of prison as at December 2014 - a 100% reduction in the expected reimprisonment rate - and the 1-year reconviction rate was 33% versus a predicted rate of 48%.

Language: en