Submissions

To: Justice Select Committee 
Date: June 2026 

Purpose

The purpose of this submission was to support the passage of this legislation with amendments. 

Recent changes to criminal justice policy by government including, for example, decreased discretion for judges to hand out sentencing discounts and greater encouragement to the judiciary to use cumulative sentencing will likely have resulted in more disabled people being imprisoned and for longer.  

People with a wide range of impairments are already overrepresented within our justice and prison systems. These include people with learning and psychosocial impairments, autistic and neurodiverse people and those who are hard of hearing/ Deaf as well as those who acquire impairments while incarcerated.  

This Bill introduced new extended meaningful contact standards for prisoners under the Nelson Mandela Rules that NZ is signed up to guaranteeing more in person contact time for prisoners. 

Bill introduces new extreme risk category of Designated Management Prisoners (DMPs) for inmates who are deemed by prison authorities to be high risk prisoners due to being convicted of terrorist acts and/or who are aiming to recruit other prisoners into gangs or terrorist groups or who present a risk to both other prisoners and staff. 

Bill introduces new expanded segregation powers to protect at risk prisoners, including those prisoners whose safety is at risk from other prisoners and/or are at risk of self-harm. 

Summary of DPA submission

Recommendations 

DPA opposed the Bill and asked that it be withdrawn.  

DPA asks that government retain eligibility to the Jobseeker Support Payment for all 18- and 19-year-olds, without any parental or other means test. 

DPA asks that all core benefit rates are increased to ensure that every beneficiary, including disabled beneficiaries, can live in dignity and participate fully in society. 

DPA asks that government take a constructive approach to supporting all young people, including disabled youth, into employment, and to further education and training through removing barriers, especially for disabled and other equity population groups including Māori and Pacifica, to doing so. 

DPA asks that all education, training and employment programmes are adequately funded to ensure that they are flexible, accessible and inclusive in fully meeting the needs of all learners, including disabled learners and job seekers.