Skip to main content

What quality-assurance or audit processes are in place, if any, to check whether staff are correctly recording the existence of dependent children when a person enters prison? and 1 other question

Answered 4014, 4017 (2026)
Questions published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tracey McLellan

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 4014

    What quality-assurance or audit processes are in place, if any, to check whether staff are correctly recording the existence of dependent children when a person enters prison?

  • 4017

    Has the updated Immediate Needs Assessment tool for people entering prison been rolled out to all prisons; if not, which prisons have not yet implemented it?

    Original response/referral lodged:

Answered by

Hon Mark Mitchell

Member for Whangaparāoa · National Party · Minister of Corrections

Answer

I am advised that on 31 January 2026, Corrections updated its Immediate Needs Assessment for people entering prison at all prison sites. The updated assessment asks if a person is the primary caregiver for any children and, if so, any relevant information about the children and their care arrangements. I am further advised that as this change has only recently been introduced, Corrections is yet to confirm the quality-assurance processes for checking that staff are correctly recording the existence of dependent children when a person enters prison. This is also my response to WPQ 4017 (2026).