Up to 90% of prison inmates have problems with substance abuse and addiction. But Corrections does not require the counsellors who provide rehabilitation programmes for them to have a graduate degree in the assessment and treatment of addictive disorders. In fact, they don't even need a degree - just a qualification.
Read Moreprisons
The Ombudsman, Corrections and 'unnatural deaths' in prison
A letter written by the Chief Ombudsman reveals disturbing questions about its relationship with the Corrections Department
Read MorePunitive political group-think rules... J'accuse too
The legislative failings exposed by Andrew Geddis this week also reveal a depressing political reality
Read MoreSimon to Sian: Shut up, please!
Simon Power is right that governments are elected to govern. But he's wrong to slap down Sian Elias for her comments on prison policy
Read MoreCorrecting Corrections
The Department of Corrections is accused of putting public safety at risk, but with a huge workload and our swelling prisoner population, department staff seem to have been given a Mission Impossible
Read MoreWhat New Zealand would look like under a Labour-Greens-Progressives coalition
What impact would the Greens have on a fourth-term Labour-led government? And the truth about the difference between the right and left in this election
Read MoreWhat New Zealand would look like under a National-ACT-UF coalition
What changes would a centre-right coalition government make? Look for more roads, pieces of privatisation, and tougher prison sentences. Then there's bulk-funding...
Read MoreNational News Brief, Tuesday October 7
All the news from the new Treasury forecasts; pressure on National's tax cut plans; house prices to bottom-out in March; what did John promise Pita?; and more
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