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Corrections Act 2004

Corrections system - Coercive powers - Opening and reading of mail and withholding of correspondence

104: General considerations relating to mail

You could also call this:

"Rules for Prison Mail to Keep Everyone Safe"

When you are dealing with mail to or from a prisoner, staff members must think about some important things. They need to protect the privacy of prisoners and the people they are writing to. Staff members also need to consider the good things that can come from prisoners staying in touch with people and organisations outside the prison. They have to keep the prison safe and secure, and stop any crimes from happening. Staff members must also make sure everyone is safe, and that no unauthorised items get into the prison. They need to think about the people who have been victims of crimes, and make sure they do not get unwanted mail from prisoners. Staff members also have to consider how the things written in letters might affect other people, and if the messages could be shared or published. They even need to think about if the messages might be hidden in coded references.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM296047.

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Part 2Corrections system
Coercive powers: Opening and reading of mail and withholding of correspondence

104General considerations relating to mail

  1. As far as practicable in the circumstances, staff members must take the following considerations into account when dealing with any mail to or from a prisoner:

  2. the need to protect the privacy of prisoners and their correspondents:
    1. the benefits to prisoners of maintaining contact with persons and organisations outside the prison:
      1. the need to maintain the security and order of the prison:
        1. the need to prevent the commission of offences:
          1. the need to ensure the safety of any person:
            1. the need to prevent the entry of unauthorised items into the prison:
              1. the interests of victims (including, in particular, being free from unwanted contact with prisoners):
                1. the potential impacts of the written material on persons beyond the intended recipient, including the potential for the sharing and publication of the material:
                  1. the potential for messages to be disseminated through coded references.

                    Compare
                    • SR 2000/81 r 96
                    Notes
                    • Section 104: amended, on , by section 25 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).
                    • Section 104(g): inserted, on , by section 27 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).
                    • Section 104(g): amended, on , by section 6 of the Corrections (Victim Protection) Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 57).
                    • Section 104(h): inserted, on , by section 27 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).
                    • Section 104(i): inserted, on , by section 27 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).