Prisoner experiences of case management in the Aotearoa New Zealand prison system.

Abstract

The Department of Corrections introduced case management to Aotearoa New Zealand’s prisons in 2011, replacing an approach of Sentence Planning. Corrections has stated that this led to improvements in four areas: the assessment of prisoner needs, prisoner motivation to complete activities, the scheduling of programmes, and the level of reintegration support provided to prisoners.

Using in-depth interviews, this study explores the perceptions prisoners have of case management, and tests the statements made by the Department of Corrections. Little research to date exists in these areas.

This study, in line with similar international studies, supports the use of the case management model for managing prisoners but finds that there are areas for improvement, which could enhance the case management experience for prisoners in a way that more closely meets their rehabilitative and reintegrative needs.