Speakers
Parallel Workshops
New Zealand’s Department of Corrections’ national extension of rehabilitative and reintegrative services to people on remand responds directly to international recognition that increasing access to interventions can address overpopulation in custody. Supported by legislative amendments and $78 million in new investment, the initiative provides evidence-based, culturally grounded and flexible interventions tailored to short and uncertain remand durations. Prioritised services include offence-focused rehabilitation (for people convicted and awaiting sentencing), behavioural skills programmes, addressing responsivity needs and reintegration support, which target people with high needs whose complex social, cultural, and health profiles contribute to system strain.
The presentation examines how workforce, infrastructure, and security classification constraints shape service feasibility and how systematic engagement across sites enables scalable, nationally consistent pathways. By addressing unmet need within a rapidly expanding remand population, the initiative demonstrates how strategic, culturally responsive rehabilitation can mitigate complexity and support improved system performance.
Implementation since July 2025 has shown that while delivering programmes in remand brings significant operational and clinical challenges, participants and staff have reported early benefits and meaningful impact. This initiative also aims to create safer, more humane prison environments that enable the conditions for people to make positive change.
This presentation is consistent with the themes of managing prison growth and complexity, and collaborative partnerships through evidence-informed, integrated strategies across custodial, rehabilitation and community teams.
Jessica Borg is the Chief Psychologist/Director Programmes at the Department of Corrections, New Zealand, where she has strategic responsibility for psychological services and rehabilitation programmes. With 18 years at Corrections, Jessica has extensive frontline and leadership experience across prison and community-based settings.
In her frontline roles, Jessica delivered rehabilitation programmes to both incarcerated individuals and those on probation. Throughout her career, Jessica has completed numerous reports for the New Zealand Parole Board and Courts, supervised correctional psychologists, and led key programme portfolios including high and medium intensity interventions. Her leadership roles have encompassed oversight of programme design, psychology research, workforce training, integrity monitoring, and evidence-based evaluation to drive continuous improvement.
Prior to Corrections, Jessica worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. She holds an MA in Human Rights, which, combined with her psychological practice, fuels her commitment to effective, just outcomes for justice-involved individuals and their families, and safer communities.