This member's bill amends the Parole Act 2002 to make completion of rehabilitative programmes a precondition for being considered for parole, and adds a definition of "rehabilitative programme" drawn from the Corrections Act 2004.
A member's bill from ACT MP Todd Stephenson that would change the Parole Act 2002 so a prisoner must complete their assigned rehabilitative programmes — courses aimed at reducing reoffending, such as those addressing violence, addiction or sexual offending — before they can be considered for parole. It also adds a legal definition of 'rehabilitative programme', drawn from the Corrections Act 2004.
Supporters say it encourages prisoners to engage in rehabilitation and could help lower New Zealand's high reoffending rates. Critics — including the Ombudsman, the Law Society and unions — warn that many prisoners face long waitlists or cannot access the required programmes because of Corrections resourcing, so people could be held longer through no fault of their own, with Māori disproportionately affected.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.