James (not his real name) is a release-to-work prisoner employed at Graeme Lowe Otago, in Green Island. The export-market skin and hide processor has 54 production employees during its busy season.
Last season it employed five release-to-work prisoners, including James. This season there will be six. James has been promoted from labouring to grading pelts. Back in prison, his day would be spent in the gym, hanging out, or working in the prison kitchen for 60 cents an hour.
But through release to work he is employed at Graeme Lowe five days a week from November to June. Last year, in the off-season, he worked at Calder Stewart Industries Ltd, in Milton.
Graeme Lowe Otago plant manager Brynn Coffin said releaseto-work prisoners had eased the company's staffing shortage.
Well-vetted prisoners were reliable, drug-free workers - something that was in short supply in times of low unemployment, Mr Coffin said.
Having previously spent time in prison, and now near the end of a three and a-half year sentence for fighting, James is keen to keep the gains he has made and do things differently this time when he is released.
As a release-to-work prisoner he is able to flat with other prisoners in a self-care unit at the prison, go to work and wear his own clothes. ‘‘You start to feel more like a civilian. It's one foot out the door.''
Savings from his earnings are mounting. ‘‘It's not just $350,'' he said of the amount each prisoner is given on release. ‘‘This time I've got a lot more to help me set up myself and my family.''
James thinks more prisoners should ‘‘give it a crack''. ‘‘It would be good for them. It would give them a work ethic and set them up for when they get out.''
