The Experiences of the Managed: case management in the Aotearoa New Zealand prison system

Abstract

In 2011, the Department of Corrections/Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Corrections) began a series of initiatives aimed at reducing reoffending, including introducing case management. In 2016 Corrections stated that case management had led to improvements in four areas: the assessment of prisoner needs; prisoner motivation to complete activities; scheduling of programmes; and levels of reintegration support. Using in-depth qualitative interviews of seven men formerly in prison in Aotearoa New Zealand, this study explores the perceptions that the formerly imprisoned have of case management, and examines the four improvements identified by Corrections. While based on a small and unique sample group, the study provides interesting indicative insights into case management in the prisons of Aotearoa New Zealand.