Parole

Given all the hoopla and kerfuffle over the Graham Burton parole reports I though it might be timely to post some figure a reporter I know picked up from the Corrections Department last year.

It might help informed debate on the matter.

1. By year, over the past three years ending June 30, how many parolees have breached required reporting conditions?

A “breach” of parole is a charge laid with the Court under s71 of the Parole Act when an offender has breached the conditions of the parole order imposed by the New Zealand Parole Board. These may include failing to attend rehabilitation programmes, failing to follow a lawful direction from a Probation Officer, or changing address without permission. The Department does not collate information on the nature of specific conditions leading to the breach action being commenced.

NUMBER OF PAROLE BREACHES BY YEAR SINCE JULY 2003.

YEAR BREACHES TOTAL PAROLE ORDERS %AGE BREACHED

03-04 384 2856 13%

04-05 313 2524 12%

05-06 315 2598 12%

1. By year, over the past three years ending June 30, how many parolees have been returned to prison for posing risk to community safety, breach of parole conditions, or committing a jailable offence?

Recall, as defined by s61 of the Parole Act 2002, is the sanction used for serious instances of non-compliance with the conditions of a parole order. This involves an application being made to the New Zealand Parole Board for an order that an offender be recalled to continue serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal institution. Recall action is commenced when a Probation Officer assesses an offender as posing an undue risk to the safety of the community, the parolee has breached their parole conditions, or the offender has committed an offence punishable by imprisonment


NUMBER OF PAROLEES RECALLED TO PRISON SINCE JULY 2003.

YEAR RECALLS PAROLEES MANAGED RECALL %AGE

03-04 222 2856 8%

04-05 194 2524 8%

05-06 176 2598 7%