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For hire – highly motivated worker, eager to start, strong work ethic, drug and alcohol free and punctuality guaranteed. Sound too good to be true? BY ALAN TITCHALL.
Prisoners on this programme are paid market or the minimum wage and are nearing the end of their sentences. Although there’s no obligation to keep the worker on after their release, in many circumstances satisfied employers are keen to keep them on. “We find release to work prisoners good value for our business,” says Roger Grattan who runs a contracting company involved in silviculture work in the Hawke’s Bay area. “They are appreciative of the chance of employment and training, and are available at short notice.” It stands to reason that they also don’t mind staying back to fit in some overtime either. Prisoners participating in the scheme are in minimum security and have proven that they can be trusted and have shown themselves to be highly motivated and eager to start work. They have to pass stringent assessment criteria that includes the ability to listen, follow instructions and understand workplace health and safety issues. The employer must also be able to demonstrate that they understand the release to work conditions and will make sure the prisoner adheres to them. The programme is operated from all 19 prisons in New Zealand by Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE), a dedicated group within the Department of Corrections. Considering the people and skill shortage in New Zealand the scheme has been very well received by employers and interest is growing all the time, says CIE national manager Robin Benefield. “Prisoners are reliable – turning up on time, well presented and eager to go. Many work on construction sites and they enjoy the hard physical work.” First time employers are quick to return for more workers, he adds, with some of the larger contractors around the country employing up to five prisoners. “A year ago we had just a few on the release programme, now we have 115 and a huge surge in interest from employers.” Thirty percent of the worker’s wage is paid to Corrections as ‘board’ to cover rehabilitation costs. Earnings are also used to pay family support and outstanding fines. The rest is given to the prisoner on their release. “This has proved a positive way of re-integrating past offenders back into society,” says Benefield. “To be able to work and get away from daily prison routine is a big boost to their self-esteem and they take a very positive attitude to their working environment. “Over the past 12 months, we have had 375 prison workers out on sites around the country and we haven’t lost a single one. They are at the end of their sentences and just have too much to loose.” Less re-offending The Department of Corrections also operates around 140 small to medium businesses of its own in areas such as engineering, forestry, printing, farming and tailoring. This way inmates can acquire new skills before becoming involved in work outside the prison. Research proves that prisoners participating on these schemes are more likely to find employment on their release and are less likely to re-offend. “Many offenders left school early with little education and have never had the opportunity to work in a stable working environment,” says Benefield. At the time of the last prison census in 2003, 52 percent of inmates had no formal qualifications and 55 percent had not been in paid work before being incarcerated. “To be able to learn skills in prison and work in the community before release builds self-esteem and mana, such as being able to put food on the family table on their release. Some of these guys have never been able to do this in the past.” One satisfied employer who supports the release to work programme is Roger Bolam of Twin Lakes Sheetmetals in the Upper Hutt. “We were very nervous about the concept to begin with until we actually met the person, who was so grateful for the opportunity to work for us.” Although they had no engineering skills, and had been a drain layer before going to prison, Bolam’s worker proved a quick learner. After 10 months on the RTW scheme he started working permanently with the company and has been employed there since 2005. There were ‘minor issues’ to do with counselling and a fair bit of administration work with the department, Bolam admits, but things worked out pretty well for both parties. “We got a very loyal employee with a fantastic attitude who has proved a good match in our working culture.”
Contractor Vol.31 No.6 July 2007 Articles on this website are copyright to Contrafed Publishing Co. Ltd
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Simply apply to your local Department of Corrections and employ a prisoner through its ‘release to work’ programme. Department staff say you will get a reliable employee and provide someone with a fresh start in society and the chance to address their offending.