Corrections to call prisoners 'men in our care' and refer to them by their first names, sources say

Friday, 22 November 2019

'Prisoners' is out, 'men in our care' is in under a new directive from Corrections (file photo).

Corrections has begun calling prisoners 'men in our care' in a move slammed by staff, according to well-placed sources.

Some officers are also being asked to address prisoners by their first names instead of their surnames, as was previously standard practice.

Topia Rameka, newly appointed Department of Corrections Deputy Chief Executive – Maori (file photo).

The raft of new terms also includes the te reo word paihere in lieu of prisoners, which in its noun form translates to 'bundle'.

Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said the idea was to humanise people in prison and 'uphold their mana'.

Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis outlines provisions in the Corrections Amendment Bill (video first published October 21).

* Conman Wayne Eaglesome teaching fellow inmates how to change names

* Corrections report finds 'shortcomings' with operation of three NZ prisons

* Convicted murderer played violent video games while in Dunedin Hospital**

Corrections officers are unimpressed with the new terms (file photo).

A source close to a major South Island prison said none of his Corrections colleagues were taking the change seriously.

'It's nuts.'

'They obviously think it's a bit of a joke.'

Another source, currently a senior Corrections officer, told Stuff he had previously been told to refer to prisoners as 'clients' rather than 'offenders'.

'That was bad enough,' he said.

But he was stunned when a new direction came from top brass ordering staff to refer to prisoners as 'paihere'.

'It is ridiculous.'

Corrections Association of New Zealand president Alan Whitley was no fan of the new language brought in by management.

'They're not in our care, they're in our custody, our legal custody.'

He also had concerns about the use of paihere instead of prisoner because the legislation used the term prisoner.

Charges for incidents such as assaults in prison could be compromised if the legislation was not updated properly, he said.

Some older Corrections staff felt uncomfortable using the prisoners' first names rather than surnames, while some prisoners also preferred to be addressed by their surnames, Whitley said.

'They're not our friends, they're in our custody.'

Corrections responds

Topia Rameka is the recently appointed Deputy Chief Executive – Maori for the Department of Corrections.

He said the term paihere was mainly used to refer to prisoners at Tongariro Prison in the central North Island.

It was developed in 2016 in consultation with local iwi, Ngati Tuwharetoa, specifically for use at Tongariro, he said.

Pai refers to the 'wellness action' while here is the gathering, learning and collection of knowledge, according to Corrections.

'The term was introduced to Tongariro Prison and staff were invited to use it if they wished to do so. While it was developed specifically for Tongariro Prison, staff at other sites have also chosen to adopt its use. If staff don't wish to use the term, they don't have to.

'Many staff at Tongariro Prison have also made the decision to call prisoners by their first names, with other sites following their lead.'

Rameka said the shift away from terms like 'prisoner' and 'offender' was in line with the Hōkai Rangi strategy for 2019-2024.

Part of the strategy was helping to build closer relationships with Māori, he said.

'While the strategy builds on many of the good things that we are doing to help rehabilitate and reintegrate people to reduce re-offending, it also outlines the need for us to provide a humanising and respectful environment that provides people with the skills and resilience needed to safely and successfully transition back into the community on release.'

Minister weighs in

Davis said Corrections recently launched Hōkai Rangi, a strategy aimed at addressing Māori reoffending and imprisonment.

'The strategy is about ensuring we are doing everything we can to help people turn their lives around while they're inside, and reduce reoffending when a prisoner is released, so we have fewer victims of crime and safer communities.'

One of the 'key outcomes' of the strategy was to humanise and heal inmates, Davis said.

'An important part of that involves staff treating people with respect and dignity.

'For example, at some prisons staff now refer to prisoners by their first names. It's such a simple but important change – and a great way to engage someone in prison and uphold their mana.'

Davis said he had 'strong feedback' that staff around the country were excited and inspired by the strategy.

The Department of Corrections has been approached for comment.