This from Stuff has prompted some strong reactions: Corrections to call prisoners ‘men in our care’ and refer to them by their first names, sources say
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.
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”.
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.”
We have a serious problem with high Māori imprisonment. A different approach may make a difference.
But:
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”.
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.”
David Farrar mocked it in Government can now claim we have zero prisoners and predictably it was slammed in comments as “politically correct bollocks”.
My initial reaction was eyebrows raised, but when I thought about it I wondered whether the views of bloggers and commenters mattered in this.
The key issue is whether it will reduce the chances of reoffending or not. I don’t know if these changes are based on any evidence of a similar approach elsewhere or not, but given that our imprisonment and recidivism rates are appalling, a less dehumanising approach to most incarcerated men and women may be worth trying.
If you read past the initial reactions there is more explanation.
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.”
PC snowflakes will get over it, or find other things to moan about.
It is important for our society that more are treated, rehabilitated and on release (and most are released) become law abiding citizens.
