Office of the Inspectorate (Department of Corrections)

Summary

The Office of the Inspectorate is established under the Corrections Act 2004 as the dedicated complaints, investigation, and assurance function for the New Zealand corrections system. Inspectors are appointed by the chief executive of the Department of Corrections and are operationally independent of prison management. Inspectors have unrestricted statutory access to all staff, facilities, information, documentation, files, records, and property under Corrections' care or control. The Inspectorate investigates prisoner complaints, conducts thematic prison inspections, and can investigate incidents including use-of-force by corrections officers. Findings are advisory; the Office recommends but cannot impose discipline. It serves also as an OPCAT National Preventive Mechanism for the corrections environment.