In operation for over four years, the faith-based unit has created a therapeutic community that assists programme participants to learn new skills and values for living. Programme areas include Christian development; community living; constructive activity; family, victim and community restoration; inmate employment; rehabilitative heeds; and reintegration services. The new lockdown hours will limit the ability of the national ministry to effectively deliver these programmes.  Although delivery of the core Christian programme will not suffer, other aspects--especially those heavily volunteer dependent--will see significant impact. The ministry estimates that volunteer hours may be reduced by as much as 47% and mentoring hours can be reduced by as much as 75% for Operation Jericho, the reintegration programme for those released from the faith-based unit.

Affected areas also include educational programmes, remedial reading programmes, Bible studies, and recreational programmes (such as art and music). Opportunities for unit elders (inmate leaders) to meet for early Morning Prayer have been eliminated and inmate accountability group meetings have been reduced from daily to twice a week. Outside work activities, such as participating in a Habitat for Humanity building project, are also jeopardised by the new lockdown hours.

PF New Zealand has implemented various strategies to minimise the affects of the lockdown. One beneficial programme provides Christian broadcasting directly to televisions in each cell. This television system --installed by PF New Zealand in 2006-- allows for the delivery of a 1-hour DVD Bible study curriculum to the individual cells three nights a week. After viewing the Bible study session, participants complete the study guide which is collected and marked the next day.

To increase volunteer contact with the participants, many volunteers have negotiated with their employers to let them visit Rimutaka during the day. Some are making arrangements to work at night in order to facilitate day-time visits.

PF New Zealand continues to negotiate with the Department of Corrections to find ways to limit the impact of the new lockdown hours on the programme.

February 2008