Cells in all New Zealand jails may soon be fitted out with phones and computers in a bid to boost prisoners' educational levels so that they can get jobs and stop reoffending after their release.
Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga is welcoming a controversial decision by British prison operator Serco to put phones and computers into every standard cell in its new $270 million jail for 960 men, which opens at Wiri in South Auckland on Friday.
Prisoners will use the phones to make pre-arranged calls to family members and services such as counselling, but they will not be able to receive calls and their outgoing calls will be monitored. They will use the computers for study, to book appointments and even to change their meal menus.
'We believe that prisoners with access to this electronic learning tool are going to be more successful in increasing their education and skills. It is an advance I would like to see in all New Zealand prisons,' Mr Lotu-Iiga said.
But Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar said he was 'appalled' by the move, saying it would actually create an incentive to offend.
'My grandchildren are out selling firewood to pay for their computers to learn their computer skills in school,' he said. 'Why not take a shortcut and wait until you've committed a crime and then you get it all on the taxpayer?'
The prison will be the first NZ jail to put electronic gear into all standard cells. At other jails, only a few phones and computers are available in kiosks in common areas.
Serco Asia-Pacific operations manager Scott McNairn said the computers were part of a 'responsible prisoner' approach, aimed at giving prisoners the education and skills needed to get jobs, homes, a driver's licence and other things they would need to live a law-abiding life after serving their time.
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A sensible approach to rehabilitation or a problematic perk?
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