CAT/OP/NZL/1/Add.1 43. As a result of the initiatives described above, by 2016 Corrections aims to achieve an overall reduction of 50 percent in the rate of serious prisoner assaults on staff, and a year-on-year reduction in the rate of serious prisoner assaults on other prisoners. Interprisoner violence prevention is discussed at paragraphs 45 to 49 of this response. Prisoner sanctions 44. The Subcommittee noted that only those responsible for incidents in prisons should be penalised as a result. Prisoners are only sanctioned if they are found to have committed an offence against discipline. When a potentially dangerous situation is unfolding with an individual or group of prisoners, it can be necessary to lockdown entire units. This is only done when warranted by the need to ensure the safety of staff and other prisoners and every effort is made to restore the units to being fully operational as soon as possible. Prison violence 45. The Subcommittee recommended that New Zealand intensify efforts to tackle interprisoner violence. Research undertaken by Corrections as part of its violence reduction work (as discussed previously) has found violence in prisons is caused by a wide range of factors. Corrections is making significant investments in preparing prisoners for a successful return to the community to meet its goal of reducing re-offending by 25% by 2017. As a result, by the end of June 2014 all prisoners at three of our prison sites will be engaged in education and training for 40 hours each week — an initiative we are extending across our network of prisons. 46. Corrections have also increased the number of places available on its medium intensity suite of rehabilitation programmes. These programmes are designed to teach offenders how to alter the thoughts, attitudes and behaviour that led to their offending, and help them maintain positive changes. These increased opportunities, coupled with more comprehensive initial training for staff described earlier, will contribute to a constructive prison culture and help tackle inter-prisoner violence. 47. Corrections are working to address prisoners’ substance abuse issues. Over the past year, Corrections implemented a prison-wide alcohol and drug strategy, which has increased the availability of group-based motivational programmes for prisoners in need of them. The programme helps prisoners to identify the issues of drug use, enhance motivation to change, and discuss options to change. Eligible prisoners can also enter a drug treatment unit, which provides a three or six month group-based programme in a therapeutic environment. 48. Corrections acknowledge that gang membership is a challenge for New Zealand’s prisons, as it is one of the strongest predictors of ongoing violence and criminal activity amongst prison populations. Corrections are currently developing an action plan to reduce re-offending by gang members. Key themes include increasing gang members’ participation in interventions and supporting offenders and their whānau/family to exit gangs. It also focuses on better identifying gang members in prison and on communitybased sentences, and better protecting prisoners without gang connections from intimidation and recruitment, particularly young and first-time prisoners who are especially vulnerable. 49. Corrections are also closely involved in the development of a national gang strategy, which is a being led by the New Zealand Police. 10