16108 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections

16108 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections: How many days, if any, has each prisoner in the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit (PERU) at Auckland Prison been in segregation as of 1 April 2025 (number of days and as a percentage of total time in PERU)?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit (PERU) at Auckland Prison accommodates some of Corrections’ most extreme risk people. I am further advised that Corrections assesses the risk that the person presents to others, including staff and to the safety and security of the prison, and if deemed suitable, people held in PERU are able to associate with others. I am further advised that, in accordance with sections 58 to 60 of the Corrections Act 2004 (the Act), people in prison can be placed on directed segregation and lawfully denied association with other prisoners if: • their behaviour presents a risk to the security of the prison; • the safety of others; • the person’s safety has been put at risk by another person; • the prison’s Health Centre Manager considers that it is necessary to assess or ensure their mental or physical health; or, • the prison General Manager feels it is the only reasonable way to keep the prisoner safe from themselves. These denials or restrictions are not blanket provisions that require a person to not associate with any other prisoner. For example, if a person is at risk from one specific person, they will be denied association with one another, but they can still associate with other people in prison and attend education and rehabilitation programmes. I am advised that a person in prison may request to be voluntarily segregated from other prisoners. A prisoner can withdraw from voluntary segregation at any time. I am further advised that to provide the number of days that each individual held in PERU at Auckland Prison has been in segregation, as at 1 April 2025, would amount to substantial collation and manual analysis, which I am not prepared to ask for the purposes of this response.