82319 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections

82319 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections: Why do some youth units have vacancies, despite there being over 120 young adults under 20 years in custody, as identified in the thematic report?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that Corrections’ procedures for the placement and management of young adults in prison (with separate procedures for the management of male prisoners under 20 and female prisoners under 18) are available on its website, at: https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/policy_and_legislation/Prison-Operations-Manual/Movement/M.03-Specified-gender-and-age-movements I am further advised that at any one time some young prisoners will be awaiting the necessary assessments that must take place prior to placement in a youth unit, while others will have been assessed as not suitable or not requiring placement in a youth unit. Others will be held at their receiving prison or another location for a variety of reasons such as attending a court appearance, maintaining access to whānau or community support, mental health needs or forensic mental health concerns restricting movement, or because they have requested voluntary segregation.