ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the views of the women about specific programmes and services that helped them both in prison and after prison. It considers parenting programmes, material supports, finances, education and employment, health and well-being, legal factors and cultural diversity. Programmes viewed as helpful post-release were often ones that enhanced personal knowledge and skills, particularly in relation to domestic violence and parenting. Parenting course in one-on-one: brilliant; really helpful for establishing rules and maintaining schedule. The women who did not perceive these services as helpful described limited accessibility of these programmes in prison, systemic limitations and chaotic lifestyles post-release. Few women accessed culturally-specific programmes after prison and they said these lacked consistency and could be difficult to access; despite there being dedicated Indigenous and Vietnamese programmes within the prison, the women did not feel this was replicated in the community: No, there is nothing for Maori (Indigenous New Zealanders).
