The Minister of Corrections in a minister in the New Zealand Government appointed by the Prime Minister to be in charge of the Department of Corrections. The current Minister of Corrections is Mark Mitchell.
History Prior to 1995 the country's prisons, probation system and the courts were all managed by the Department of Justice and overseen by the Minister of Justice. The Department of Corrections was formed in 1995 by the Department of Justice (Restructuring) Act 1995. A separate ministerial portfolio for corrections was created on 1 October 1995 and was initially assigned to the incumbent justice minister, Doug Graham.
Responsibilities The Minister of Corrections is responsible for determining policy and exercising statutory powers and functions related to the Corrections portfolio. The Minister is also responsible to Parliament for ensuring the Department of Corrections carries out its functions properly and efficiently.
Legislation related to the Corrections portfolio includes the Corrections Act 2004 (and accompanying regulations in the Corrections Regulations 2005), the Criminal Justice Act 1985, the Parole Act 2002, and the Sentencing Act 2002.
The Minister of Corrections is also responsible for: Giving general directions to the Chief Executive of the Department relating to the exercise of their powers and functions. Any other powers and functions conferred under the Corrections Act 2004 or regulations made under it. Setting pay rates for part-time probation officers. Declaring land or buildings to be a prison or community work centre. Requisitioning land and buildings in an emergency. Approving pay rates for working prisoners. Setting the cost of imprisonment so it can be deducted from the earnings of prisoners on "release to work". Consenting to the Chief Executive contracting out escort and courtroom custodial services.
List of ministers The following ministers have held the office of Minister of Corrections.
Key
No.NamePortraitTerm of OfficePrime Minister1Doug Graham1 October 19951 March 1996Bolger 2 Paul East 1 March 1996 8 December 1997 3 Nick Smith 8 December 1997 1 February 1999Shipley 4 Clem Simich 1 February 1999 10 December 1999 5Matt Robson10 December 199915 August 2002Clark 6 Mark Gosche 15 August 2002 19 May 2003 7 Paul Swain 19 May 2003 19 October 2005 8 Damien O'Connor 19 October 2005 2 November 2007 9 Phil Goff 5 November 2007 19 November 2008 10 Judith Collins 19 November 2008 12 December 2011 Key 11 Anne Tolley 12 December 2011 8 October 2014 12 Sam Lotu-Iiga 8 October 2014 14 December 2015 (10) Judith Collins 14 December 2015 20 December 2016 13 Louise Upston 20 December 2016 26 October 2017 English 14 Kelvin Davis 26 October 2017 27 November 2023 Ardern Hipkins 15 Mark Mitchell 27 November 2023 present Luxon
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