The Department of Corrections has provided more guidance on its operations under COVID-19 Level 2.

In a letter to the New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa, the Department’s Chief Executive, Jeremy Lightfoot, says where possible it encourages lawyers to consider other options for engaging with their clients where practicable.

“The measures we put in place to support access during COVID-19 will continue.  These include utilising the lawyer document email system to request video conferencing and phone calls with clients, and the use of Jabber to call into the VMR.

“We have also advised our staff that communication with lawyers is to be given priority over other uses of the phone system.”

Corrections has issued guidelines on prison visits at Alert Level 2.