Corrections Score: FAILED

Corrections have a never ending list their leaders wishes would go away. The Ombudsmen reported their score card yesterday and all day the Minister and the CEO have been carpeted trying to explain away their lack of inaction.

TV1 tonight listed a few of the areas up for discussion - so many I could not keep up - I think I got them all...

• Prison Transport failures
• Parole Board failures
• Corruption within prisons
• Rioting in prisons
• Contraband found in prisons
• Rehab failures
• New Prison build cost overruns
• No spare space in prisons

Looking at the above list, is there any part of Corrections left that could be marked as not failed? The only thing not listed is the kitchen service and some would question that output!

The CEO would have us believe that they have not set out to 'mislead, deceive, hide and deny'. The Minister even is trying to shoot the messenger, stating that

‘I am not sure why … the Ombudsmen may have misinterpreted that information’

I suspect that covering their backsides is the prime game and as always, no-one will be found responsible at the top level.

The person that should go forthwith is the Minister, but Helen does not have any one else to take charge of this poisoned cup, so unfortunately he will be forced to take the heat till fired in the New Year during a cabinet reshuffle.

No matter what these two tout as truth, I suspect the public believes the Ombudsmen have ultimately got it right.