Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Corrections Act 2004

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

109: Mail between prisoners, official agencies, and members of Parliament

You could also call this:

"Prisoners' mail to and from officials and MPs is private and will not be opened."

If you are a prisoner, staff members cannot open your mail to official agencies. You can send mail to members of Parliament at Parliament without it being opened. If an official agency or member of Parliament sends you mail, it will not be withheld if they include a covering letter saying they are acting in an official role regarding you.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

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=DLM296052.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal lawGovernment and voting > Government departments
Previous

108: Withholding mail, or

"Stopping mail in prison: when a prison manager can stop letters between you and someone else"

Next

110: Mail between prisoners and legal advisers, or

"Prisoners' mail to and from their lawyers is private and protected"

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

109Mail between prisoners, official agencies, and members of Parliament

  1. A staff member must not open any mail and an authorised person must not read any correspondence and a prison manager must not withhold any mail that—

  2. is from a prisoner to an official agency; or
    1. is from a prisoner to a member of Parliament and is addressed to that member at Parliament; or
      1. is from an official agency or member of Parliament to a prisoner, and accompanied by a covering letter addressed to the prison manager stating that the agency or member of Parliament is acting in an official capacity in respect of the prisoner.

        Notes
        • Section 109: replaced, on , by section 28 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 5).