U.S. Embassy & Consulate
in New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue

Arrest of a U.S. Citizen – What we can and cannot do

If you are aware that a U.S. citizen is under arrest in New Zealand, please ask the authorities to notify the U.S. Consulate General immediately. The Consulate General can work to help protect the person and ensure fair treatment. The Consulate General will also visit the prisoner; provide information about the local legal process, as well as a list of local attorneys; and notify family and friends.

For more information on what the Embassy can and cannot do, as well as an overview of the New Zealand justice system, click on this attachment – New Zealand’s Criminal Justice System (PDF 40 KB).

The Department of State is committed to ensuring fair and humane treatment for U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas. We stand ready to assist incarcerated citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international law, domestic and foreign law.

Avoid getting arrested overseas by:

• Following the laws and regulations of the country you are visiting or living in.
• Learning about laws there which might be different from the laws in the United States. We provide some information for each country on our Country Specific pages.  For further information on laws within the foreign country before you go, contact that country’s nearest embassy or consulate within the United States.

If you are arrested overseas or know a U.S. citizen who is:

• Ask the prison authorities to notify the U.S. embassy or consulate
• You may also wish to reach out to the closest U.S. embassy or consulate to let us know of arrest.  Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates overseas can be found here or by going to our individual Country Specific Information pages.

Consular Assistance to U.S. Prisoners:

When a U.S. citizen is arrested overseas, he or she may be initially confused and disoriented.  It can be more difficult because the prisoner is in unfamiliar surroundings, and may not know the local language, customs, or legal system.

 We can help:

• Provide a list of local attorneys who speak English
• Contact family, friends, or employers of the detained U.S. citizen with their written permission
• Visit the detained U.S. citizen regularly and provide reading materials and vitamin supplements, where appropriate
• Help ensure that prison officials are providing appropriate medical care for you
• Provide a general overview of the local criminal justice process
• Inform the detainee of local and U.S.-based resources to assist victims of crime that may be available to them
• If they would like, ensuring that prison officials are permitting visits with  a member of the clergy of the religion of your choice
• Establish an OCS Trust so friends and family can transfer funds to imprisoned U.S. citizens, when permissible under prison regulations

We cannot:

• Get U.S. citizens out of jail overseas
• State to a court that anyone is guilty or innocent
• Provide legal advice or represent U.S. citizens in court overseas
• Serve as official interpreters or translators
• Pay legal, medical, or other fees for U.S. citizens overseas