Information we can provide
Corrections can answer queries that are about the management of custodial sentences (imprisonment and home detention) and non-custodial sentences and orders (supervision, community work and parole) imposed by the Courts.
Corrections is part of the Justice Sector, which includes the Ministry of Justice, the Police, and the New Zealand Parole Board.
We can answer questions about:
- statistics on the prison population and sentences or orders
- information on types of sentences or orders
- incidents in prison - for example prison escapes or deaths in custody
- rehabilitation programmes.
We do not usually provide comment about individual offenders as we operate in accordance with a number of legislations, including the Privacy Act 1993.
Read more about Legislation that guides how we respond.
What Corrections does not do
We do not:
- arrest or sentence offenders
- decide whether someone accused of a crime is remanded in prison
- decide when a prisoner is released
- set conditions for a community-based sentence
- collect fines
- normally manage offenders under the age of 17.
Who to contact
Contact the New Zealand Parole Board if you have a question about:
- release of offenders on parole
- applications for compassionate release
- parole conditions
- parole board hearing
- recalls of offenders
- a date an offender is due to be released on parole.
Contact the Ministry of Justice if you have a question about:
- prison population forecast
- statistics on convictions
- sentence lengths.
Contact the Police if you have a question about:
- what charge(s) are laid
- court appearances
- recapture of escapees.
Contact Oranga Tamariki if you have a question about:
- youth offenders, aged between 10 and 16, serving custodial sentences.