Kia ora,

Thank you for contacting the Department of Corrections; this is an
automatic reply to confirm we have received your email – please do not
reply to this e mail.

 

If you are requesting information we are required to comply with the
Privacy Act 2020, the Official Information Act 1982 and the Victims Rights
Act 2002.

 

Depending on the nature of your request you may not receive an official
response for up to 20 working days.

 

Be assured we will endeavour to respond to you as quickly as possible.

 

If you are a friend or family member of someone in prison, you can find
some useful information [1]here.

 

In most cases we are required to ask the person in prison for their
permission to release their information to you.  If you do not want the
person to know you are asking about them, please let us know as soon as
possible.

 

All media queries should be sent to [2][email address].

 

If you are a victim, you will find information about the Victim
Notification Register on our website [3]here.

 

Our website, [4]http://www.corrections.govt.nz/ provides up to date news
and information about our work, you can also follow us on [5]Facebook and
[6]Twitter.

 

Kind regards,

The Ministerial Services Team

[7][Department of Corrections request email]

 

 

 

show quoted sections

Kia ora,

Thank you for your email.

We are in receipt of your email.

If you are requesting information we are required to comply with the Privacy Act 2020, the Official Information Act 1982 and the Victims Rights Act 2002.

Depending on the nature of your request you may not receive an official response for up to 20 working days.

We will respond to you in due course.

Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011

show quoted sections

Kia ora Mason,

Please see the attached notification of partial transfer from Corrections.

 

Ngā mihi o te wā, 

 

Ministerial Services

Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa

a: Mayfair House, 44 - 52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 | Private Bag
1206, Wellington 6140 |

[1][IMG] [2][IMG] [3][IMG] [4][IMG] [5][IMG]

 

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

Kia ora Mason,

Please see the attached correspondence from Corrections.

 

Ngā mihi o te wā, 

 

Ministerial Services

Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa

a: Mayfair House, 44 - 52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 | Private Bag
1206, Wellington 6140 |

[1][IMG] [2][IMG] [3][IMG] [4][IMG] [5][IMG]

 

 

 

show quoted sections

Good afternoon

 

I refer to your request, our reference IR-01-23-16663, which was
transferred to NZ Police from the Department of Corrections, for

 

In the 3 months of 2021, September, October, and November:

- how many times was a prosecution launched for a breach of bail / parole
/ other form of breach such as a parole recall, result from those failures
to charge? Please forward this portion of the request to the MOJ or Police
should that be appropriate. In which case, it is likely that there may
need to be collaboration.

In the 3 months of 2022, September, October, and November:

- how many times was a prosecution launched for a breach of bail / parole
/ other form of breach such as a parole recall, result from a failure to
charge trackers? Please forward this portion of the request to the MOJ or
Police should that be appropriate. In which case, it is likely that there
may need to be collaboration.

 

I am writing to advise Police is transferring your request to the Ministry
of Justice. The information to which your request relates is not held by
Police but is believed to be held by or is more closely connected with the
functions of the Ministry of Justice. In these circumstances, agencies are
required by section 14 of the OIA to transfer the request.

 

You will hear further from Ministry of Justice concerning your request.

 

Ngā mihi
Lisa MacKenzie
Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters

 

 

----- Message from M B <[1][FYI request #22703 email]>
on Sat, 6 May 2023 06:27:14 +0000 -----

To: "Info@Corrections" <[2][Department of Corrections request email]>
Official Information request - Corrections & 'Buddi' contractor
Subject: for
electronic monitoring - Faulty Equipment - Human rights - Access
to Justice

[You don't often get email from
[3][FYI request #22703 email]. Learn why this is
important at [4]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Department of Corrections,

CONTEXT OF REQUEST:

The new electronic monitoring system provided by private contractor -
Buddi - was rolled out between February and August 2022
([5]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).

The Buddi supplied electronic monitoring device attached to a defendant or
parole's leg is called a 'smart tag' and the portable charger that charges
that smart tag is called an 'on body charger' (OBC). Part of the agreement
that people subject to electronic monitoring must accept is that the smart
tag will be charged for 2 hours every day via the OBC
([6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).
The smart tag is the same for everyone, there is no longer different
equipment for home detention as opposed to community detention
([7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).

Prior to the 2022 phase out, '3M' was the provider of electronic
monitoring equipment. There were two types of bracelets based on the
conditions imposed: one was a combination of GPS and RF; the other
bracelet was RF only.

I have been made aware that there has been a significant increase in the
number of faults with the new Buddi equipment. Although, given that there
have been previous reports of faulty equipment dating as far back as 2010
([8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...),
it is unclear whether these anecdotal reports are consistent with the
number of historic faults.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION:

Old System:
- Please provide the OIA response to DEBBIE PORTEOUS of the Otago Times
from 2010 that was referenced in this article
[9]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo....

In the 3 months of 2021, September, October, and November:
- On average, how many people were subject to EM at any one time?
- how many faults were recorded for EM equipment?
- please provide the quantities of each type of equipment (OBC, trackers,
base station...) that was retuned for repair or to be sent back to the
supplier. Please itemise each category of equipment; dates are not
required, just quantities.
- how many times was EM equipment failed to be charge resulting in an
alert in the monitoring system? RF bracelets did not require charging, so
this request is inherently limited to those who were subject to EM
equipment that required charging (EM Bail, Home detention, Parole).
- how many times was a prosecution launched for a breach of bail / parole
/ other form of breach such as a parole recall, result from those failures
to charge? Please forward this portion of the request to the MOJ or Police
should that be appropriate. In which case, it is likely that there may
need to be collaboration.

New Buddi system:
In the 3 months of 2022, September, October, and November:
- On average, how many people were subject to EM at any one time?
- how many faults were recorded for EM equipment?
- please provide the quantity of each type of equipment (OBC, trackers,
base station...) that was retuned for repair or to be sent back to the
supplier. Please itemise each category of equipment; dates are not
required, just quantitiess.
- how many times was EM equipment failed to be charge resulting in an
alert in the monitoring system? RF bracelets did not require charging, so
this request is inherently limited to those who were subject to EM
equipment that required charging (EM Bail, Home detention, Parole).
- how many times was a prosecution launched for a breach of bail / parole
/ other form of breach such as a parole recall, result from a failure to
charge trackers? Please forward this portion of the request to the MOJ or
Police should that be appropriate. In which case, it is likely that there
may need to be collaboration.

In regard to whether this request constitutes substantial collation or
research, I note that a similar request was granted in 2010 following
similar queries
([10]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).
The material requested is also of significant public interest given the
inherent human rights and access to justice implications of equipment that
is used to mitigate risks of bail, serve sentences in lieu of custodial
sentences, and monitor paroles. When this equipment fails, those rights
have the potential to be unjustifiable limited.

Yours faithfully,
Mason.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[11][FYI request #22703 email]

Is [12][Department of Corrections request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Department of Corrections? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[13]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[14]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FYI request #22703 email]
2. mailto:[Department of Corrections request email]
3. mailto:[FYI request #22703 email]
4. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
5. https://fyi.org.nz/request/18901/respons...
6. https://fyi.org.nz/request/18901/respons...
7. https://www.corrections.govt.nz/our_work...
8. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/monit...
9. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/monit...
10. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/monit...
11. mailto:[FYI request #22703 email]
12. mailto:[Department of Corrections request email]
13. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
14. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

Kia ora Mason,

 

Your OIA request was partially transferred from NZ Police to  Ministry of
Justice.

 

We acknowledge receipt of your request regarding In the 3 months of 2021,
September, October, and November:

- how many times was a prosecution launched for a breach of bail / parole
/ other form of breach such as a parole recall, result from those failures
to charge? Please forward this portion of the request to the MOJ or Police
should that be appropriate. In which case, it is likely that there may
need to be collaboration.

In the 3 months of 2022, September, October, and November:

- how many times was a prosecution launched for a breach of bail / parole
/ other form of breach such as a parole recall, result from a failure to
charge trackers? Please forward this portion of the request to the MOJ or
Police should that be appropriate. In which case, it is likely that there
may need to be collaboration.

 

This has been forwarded to the relevant business unit for consideration
and response.

 

You can expect a response by 27/07/2023

 

The Ministry of Justice may publish the response to your request on our
website, you can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will
take place at least 10 working days after it has been sent you. Your name
and any other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a)
(protect the privacy of natural persons).

 

 

  Ngā mihi,

Ministerial Relations and Services

Governance and Assurance

DDI: +64 4 918 8800

Justice Centre I Aitken Street

DX Box SX 10088 I Wellington

[1]www.justice.govt.nz

 

 

 

 

From: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 28 June 2023 1:00 pm
To: '[FOI #22703 email]'
<[FOI #22703 email]>
Subject: RE: Transfer of your Official Information Act request/ C168285
Partial Transfer request (ref IR-01-23-16663)

 

Good afternoon

 

I refer to your request, our reference IR-01-23-16663, which was
transferred to NZ Police from the Department of Corrections, for

 

In the 3 months of 2021, September, October, and November:

- how many times was a prosecution launched for a breach of bail / parole
/ other form of breach such as a parole recall, result from those failures
to charge? Please forward this portion of the request to the MOJ or Police
should that be appropriate. In which case, it is likely that there may
need to be collaboration.

In the 3 months of 2022, September, October, and November:

- how many times was a prosecution launched for a breach of bail / parole
/ other form of breach such as a parole recall, result from a failure to
charge trackers? Please forward this portion of the request to the MOJ or
Police should that be appropriate. In which case, it is likely that there
may need to be collaboration.

 

I am writing to advise Police is transferring your request to the Ministry
of Justice. The information to which your request relates is not held by
Police but is believed to be held by or is more closely connected with the
functions of the Ministry of Justice. In these circumstances, agencies are
required by section 14 of the OIA to transfer the request.

 

You will hear further from Ministry of Justice concerning your request.

 

Ngā mihi
Lisa MacKenzie
Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters

 

 

----- Message from M B <[2][FOI #22703 email]>
on Sat, 6 May 2023 06:27:14 +0000 -----

To: "Info@Corrections" <[3][Department of Corrections request email]>
Official Information request - Corrections & 'Buddi' contractor
Subject: for
electronic monitoring - Faulty Equipment - Human rights - Access
to Justice

[You don't often get email from
[4][FOI #22703 email]. Learn why this is
important at [5]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Department of Corrections,

CONTEXT OF REQUEST:

The new electronic monitoring system provided by private contractor -
Buddi - was rolled out between February and August 2022
([6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).

The Buddi supplied electronic monitoring device attached to a defendant or
parole's leg is called a 'smart tag' and the portable charger that charges
that smart tag is called an 'on body charger' (OBC). Part of the agreement
that people subject to electronic monitoring must accept is that the smart
tag will be charged for 2 hours every day via the OBC
([7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).
The smart tag is the same for everyone, there is no longer different
equipment for home detention as opposed to community detention
([8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).

Prior to the 2022 phase out, '3M' was the provider of electronic
monitoring equipment. There were two types of bracelets based on the
conditions imposed: one was a combination of GPS and RF; the other
bracelet was RF only.

I have been made aware that there has been a significant increase in the
number of faults with the new Buddi equipment. Although, given that there
have been previous reports of faulty equipment dating as far back as 2010
([9]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...),
it is unclear whether these anecdotal reports are consistent with the
number of historic faults.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION:

Old System:
- Please provide the OIA response to DEBBIE PORTEOUS of the Otago Times
from 2010 that was referenced in this article
[10]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo....

In the 3 months of 2021, September, October, and November:
- On average, how many people were subject to EM at any one time?
- how many faults were recorded for EM equipment?
- please provide the quantities of each type of equipment (OBC, trackers,
base station...) that was retuned for repair or to be sent back to the
supplier. Please itemise each category of equipment; dates are not
required, just quantities.
- how many times was EM equipment failed to be charge resulting in an
alert in the monitoring system? RF bracelets did not require charging, so
this request is inherently limited to those who were subject to EM
equipment that required charging (EM Bail, Home detention, Parole).
- how many times was a prosecution launched for a breach of bail / parole
/ other form of breach such as a parole recall, result from those failures
to charge? Please forward this portion of the request to the MOJ or Police
should that be appropriate. In which case, it is likely that there may
need to be collaboration.

New Buddi system:
In the 3 months of 2022, September, October, and November:
- On average, how many people were subject to EM at any one time?
- how many faults were recorded for EM equipment?
- please provide the quantity of each type of equipment (OBC, trackers,
base station...) that was retuned for repair or to be sent back to the
supplier. Please itemise each category of equipment; dates are not
required, just quantitiess.
- how many times was EM equipment failed to be charge resulting in an
alert in the monitoring system? RF bracelets did not require charging, so
this request is inherently limited to those who were subject to EM
equipment that required charging (EM Bail, Home detention, Parole).
- how many times was a prosecution launched for a breach of bail / parole
/ other form of breach such as a parole recall, result from a failure to
charge trackers? Please forward this portion of the request to the MOJ or
Police should that be appropriate. In which case, it is likely that there
may need to be collaboration.

In regard to whether this request constitutes substantial collation or
research, I note that a similar request was granted in 2010 following
similar queries
([11]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).
The material requested is also of significant public interest given the
inherent human rights and access to justice implications of equipment that
is used to mitigate risks of bail, serve sentences in lieu of custodial
sentences, and monitor paroles. When this equipment fails, those rights
have the potential to be unjustifiable limited.

Yours faithfully,
Mason.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[12][FOI #22703 email]

Is [13][Department of Corrections request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Department of Corrections? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[14]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[15]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.justice.govt.nz/
2. mailto:[FOI #22703 email]
3. mailto:[Department of Corrections request email]
4. mailto:[FOI #22703 email]
5. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
6. https://fyi.org.nz/request/18901/respons...
7. https://fyi.org.nz/request/18901/respons...
8. https://www.corrections.govt.nz/our_work...
9. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/monit...
10. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/monit...
11. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/monit...
12. mailto:[FOI #22703 email]
13. mailto:[Department of Corrections request email]
14. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
15. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

Kia ora Mason,

 

Please see the attached correspondence from Corrections.

 

Ngā mihi o te wā, 

 

Ministerial Services

Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa

a: Mayfair House, 44 - 52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 | Private Bag
1206, Wellington 6140 |

[1][IMG] [2][IMG] [3][IMG] [4][IMG] [5][IMG]

 

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

Kia ora Mason,

Please see the attached correspondence from Corrections.

I hope this adequately addresses your queries.

Ngā mihi o te wā,

Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: Mayfair House, 44 - 52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 | Private Bag 1206, Wellington 6140 |

show quoted sections

Tēnā koe Mason,

 

Please find your OIA response attached.

 

 

Ngā mihi,

Paul Easton

Principal Media Advisor | Communications Services
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture

027 276 9810

[1][email address] | [2]justice.govt.nz

 

 

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.justice.govt.nz/