Inmates at a Waikato prison have been getting in-house tattoo removals to boost their chances of getting a job when they are released.
The initiative at Spring Hill Corrections Facility in Hampton Downs aims to "help reduce re-offending and enhance employment prospects for prisoners upon release," an internal memo obtained by Newshub says.
"Imagine no longer having to front for a job interview with a bulldog or a clenched fist tattooed on your cheek," said Case Manager Andrea Brydon. The removals are "truly life-changing," she says, and demonstrate the men are "serious about creating a different future".
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Chris Lightbown, Spring Hill prison director, confirmed to Newshub that the sessions were being offered over the next three days. Inmates are required to pay for the service per session.
"This service is being delivered by a professional skin care provider in an effort to help boost the employment prospects of prisoners when they leave prison and give them the opportunity for a better life outside the wire," Mr Lightbown told Newshub.
"International research shows that tattoos can be a barrier to reintegration for prisoners particularly if they are offensive, indicate a gang or criminal association or are of poor quality."
He says Auckland Prison also runs a tattoo removal service which prisoners must pay for themselves.
The first round of tattoo removal sessions were carried out by HB Skin Clinics for 20 prisoners, the internal memo says. The inmates paid just $50 per session, which is significantly cheaper than the regular price of $270.
Potential candidates for the removal sessions were interviewed and took photos of the tattoos they wanted removed, and the sessions have been hailed as "hugely successful", according to Ms Brydon and Shelley Currie, the original instigator of the programme.
"The main focus was on facial, neck and hand tattoos, but what became apparent through the interview process was that many of the men had other tattoos on their arms, legs, chest and backs they wanted removed because they signified a past that they want to move on from."
"Those who have had their first treatment are already asking when the next session will be, and some have advised us that they'd like to pay for longer treatment sessions."
Tattoos have been known to prevent ex-prisoners from getting jobs in the past, which Kiwi Mark Cropp knows only too well. As a teenager in prison, he got the word "DEVAST8" across his face, and later admitted the tattoo made finding a job more difficult.
Newshub.
