Jail Birds

2002 DOCUMENTARY

This hard-hitting documentary goes inside the fences of Arohata Prison and into the world of the inmates who are "doing time". This is an insider's look into life behind bars; we hear from the women as they talk about their daily routines, their past and their hopes for the future.
The documentary takes us on a journey through the wings that make up the institution, starting at Tizard, the newest wing, but the one with the least privileges, where all the women start their sentences, are classified and if they behave move on to other wings with more privileges and opportunities to rehabilitate. From there we move through the prison as an inmate would during her time, ending up at the Drug Treatment Unit where those who choose to go in the months leading up to their release.
The women in this documentary are inside for serious crimes. They are responsible for many victims in our community.
Most women are mothers.
95% of women inside have been sexually abused from a young age.
For most women being inside is the first time they are safe from physical, sexual and emotional abuse, poverty and drug abuse.

Interviewer: Jane Bowron.
Camera: Ginny Loane.
Sound: Deb Frame.
Production Manager: Linda Keown.
Editor: Peter Roberts.
TV3 Executive Producer: Sue Woodfield.
Producer: Michele Fantl.
Director: Jessica Justice.

Screened on TV3 April 25, 2002 (Inside New Zealand)

Watch a clip here.
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