Key Takeaways
- Coroner Bruce Hesketh has released his findings into the death of Kohiti, a long-term prisoner who took his own life after being released from prison.
- The coroner has recommended that long-term prisoners be marked as "urgent" to receive psychological services support in preparation for their release.
- Kohiti’s death highlights the challenges faced by prisoners when re-entering society, particularly those who have served longer-term sentences and have become heavily institutionalized.
- The Department of Corrections has acknowledged the importance of transitions when supporting people at risk of suicide and self-harm, and is working to address the issue.
Introduction to the Case
The coroner’s report into the death of Kohiti, a long-term prisoner who took his own life after being released from prison, has highlighted the challenges faced by prisoners when re-entering society. Kohiti was released to a residence set up for parolees, where he was required to wear an ankle bracelet and follow a set routine. Despite appearing to be mentally stable and well, Kohiti had expressed concerns about his safety and had asked to be returned to prison. Tragically, he was found dead in his unit, with a note indicating his intention to end his life.
Kohiti’s Background and Release
Kohiti had been a "responsible inmate" during his time in prison, with limited involvement with the health team apart from his ongoing back pain. He had been assessed as being able to self-administer medication and had denied any history of depression or thoughts of self-harm. However, his parole reports had focused on his risk of reoffending, rather than assessing his mental health and ability to reintegrate into society. As a result, he was not prioritized for psychological services in the community and was placed on the "standard service" list instead.
The Coroner’s Findings
The coroner’s report found that Kohiti’s death was self-inflicted, and that he had died sometime between July 25-28 last year. The coroner noted that there had been a number of suicides of former prisoners after their release from prison, and that Kohiti’s case was not an isolated incident. The coroner reviewed a number of similar cases, and found that in all but one, the suicides had occurred within a relatively short period following the deceased’s release from prison.
The Challenges Faced by Released Prisoners
The coroner’s report highlights the challenges faced by prisoners when re-entering society, particularly those who have served longer-term sentences. These individuals often become heavily institutionalized, socially isolated, and lacking in exposure to the changes in society. The coroner noted that there is much research that identifies the risk to recently released inmates, and that work is being done in New Zealand to address this issue. The Department of Corrections has acknowledged the importance of transitions when supporting people at risk of suicide and self-harm, and is working to implement strategies to reduce this risk.
Recommendations for Improvement
The coroner has recommended that long-term prisoners have their cases marked as "urgent" to receive psychological services support in preparation for their release. This would involve providing additional support and resources to these individuals in the critical weeks and months both before and after their release. The coroner also noted that the Department of Corrections should consider strengthening multi-agency collaboration for service provision for prisoners on release, and consider the effectiveness of a previously-trialed "discharge nurse" role.
Conclusion
The coroner’s report into the death of Kohiti highlights the need for greater support and resources to be provided to prisoners when they are released from prison. The challenges faced by these individuals are significant, and it is clear that more needs to be done to reduce the risk of suicide and self-harm. The coroner’s recommendations provide a starting point for addressing this issue, and it is hoped that they will be implemented in order to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. By providing additional support and resources to prisoners when they are released, we can help to reduce the risk of suicide and self-harm, and provide these individuals with the best possible chance of successfully reintegrating into society.