A: BACKGROUND

In Minute CAB (00) M 22/22, Cabinet invited the Minister of Corrections (convenor) in consultation with the Ministers of Justice, Police and Transport, to work with relevant departments to develop a strategy aimed at slowing growth in and, in time reducing the prison population. Cabinet also invited the Ministers concerned to report to the Social Policy and Health Committee by the end of August 2000 in relation to imprisonment related to driving offences, and by the end of September 2000 in relation to all other offence categories.

A number of other policy projects are underway that have a bearing in this topic. These include a possible Taskforce on aspects of youth justice, the Sentencing Reform Bill, and procedures for the management of psychiatrically disturbed inmates. It is proposed that this Taskforce should not re-consider these matters.

B: TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE OFFICIALS GROUP

The primary objective is to:

The Officials Group is to:

1. Set out the broad options that exist for strategies to reduce the number of offenders receiving prison sentences. I recommend that this involve considering the following headings:
   1. Early identification and intervention for offenders on a trajectory toward prison.

   2. Reducing the return to prison of ex-inmates as a result of serious re-offending.

   3. Increased use of effective alternatives to prison, such as home detention.

2. Consider and report on the factors that must be taken into account in selecting options for presentation to Ministers, including:
   1. Consistency with Government objectives for the justice sector,

   2. Consistency and conflict with existing agency policies,

   3. Implications for community safety,

   4. Evidence for effectiveness,

   5. Implications and opportunities for Maori and Pacific peoples,

   6. Cost implications and cost effectiveness.

   7. Legislative implications.

   8. The potential impact of each option on prison populations and the timing of the expected benefits.

3. Set out the nature and recommended timing of any follow-on work required to develop specific options against each strategy approved by Cabinet.

4. Select and recommend options for strategies to be put to the Social Policy and Health Committee in response to the Cabinet Minute, including broad priorities for future development.

C: RECOMMENDED TIMETABLE

An option will be presented that will allow the Ministerial Group to report to the Social Policy and Health Committee on both topics (driving offences, and all other offences) at the end of September. This timetable assumes that the Ministerial Group adopts this option, and that Cabinet agrees to the revised reporting timetable.

Target date	Milestone
21 July	First meeting of Officials Group. Consider, amend, approve terms of reference, timetable, and schedule of meetings
When available	Terms of Reference agreed by Ministers
31 July	Officials Group has an agreed work plan
21 August	Officials Group has received working papers for review
24 August	Working paper reviews back to authors
28 August	All final working papers available
14 September	Draft report out for consultation
18 September	Officials Group approve final version
22 September	Final version to Ministers Group for approval
3 October	Report to SPH

D: REPRESENTATION ON THE OFFICIALS GROUP

The following Ministers have been nominated in the Cabinet Minute as members of the Ministers' Group

• Minister of Corrections (Convertor)

• Minister of Justice

• Minister of Police

• Minister of Transport.

It is recommended that the Associate Minister of Corrections also be invited to join the Ministers' Group.

Given the policy areas that will be covered by the Officials' Group the following agencies are invited to be represented on the Officials' Group, or to submit working papers through the Chairperson of that Group:

• Department of Corrections (Chair)

• Ministry of Justice

• Police

• Ministry of Transport and or Land Transport Safety Authority

• Ministry of Maori Development

• Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs

• Department of Child, Youth and Family Services

• Ministry of Youth Affairs

• Department for Courts

• Ministry of Women's Affairs

• Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

• The Treasury

• The State Services Commission.