The corrections department's operating and capital budget comes in at $1.94bn
Funding has been set aside for the Department of Corrections in the 2024 Budget.
This is part of the department’s $1.94bn operating and capital budget. The funds will be applied towards the expansion of Waikeria Prison by 810 beds, the expansion of prison capacity and the recruitment of additional corrections officers.
Budget 2024 has also indicated that funding has been allocated for a planned comprehensive review of rehabilitative and reintegrative programmes for remand prisoners; funds for the provision of these services will be made available in 2025/26.
The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa praised the signalling of the review, as well as the proposed amendments to law to implement rehabilitative programmes for remand prisoners. Nonetheless, the organisation pointed out that funding for rehabilitative programmes geared towards sentenced prisoners has not increased significantly.
The Law Society expressed its worry about whether sufficient resources would be available for the provision of timely and appropriate rehabilitative services if the Parole Amendment (Mandatory Completion of Rehabilitative Programmes) Bill was enacted.
Moreover, the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) highlighted a considerable increase in prison population since April 2023; both recent and intended changes to justice policy are likely to spur more uptick, with the reform of sentencing law being a specific factor. The Law Society indicated that funding would need to be go beyond that provided in Budget 2024.
A total of $68.7m in funds has also been set aside for 'Addressing Serious Youth Offending'. This is indicative of a “new legislative category in the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989” and the reinstatement of a “military-style academy pilot for Young Serious Offenders”.
The BEFU suggests this may result in an uptick in the number of young people designated as youth offenders, accompanied by rising costs associated with the Youth Court and youth justice residences. According to the Law Society, the costs associated with this increase could go beyond the 2024/25 budget.
