Page 1381 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 13 May 2014
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offenders had their parole cancelled and they returned to jail. Last year, despite a tripling of the parole breach rate to over 300 events, only eight per cent of cases resulted in prisoners returning to jail. Attorney, what are you doing to ensure that parole conditions are not being ignored by offenders?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Doszpot for the question. Obviously ACT Policing and ACT corrections have a strong role and undertake an ongoing and comprehensive assessment of circumstances where people released on parole are abiding or not abiding with their parole conditions. Matters in relation to whether or not people should be returned to full-time custody, having breached their parole conditions, will depend on the circumstances. Whether or not they are charged with a further offence would be considered by the court. If they were in breach of parole more generally but had not been charged with an offence, the Sentence Administration Board may take appropriate action. I have confidence in the courts and the Sentence Administration Board in relation to these matters.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Attorney, is there implicit pressure being placed on the Sentence Administration Board to limit parole cancellations because the jail is full?
MR CORBELL: Absolutely not, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Attorney, would knowledge that there is less likelihood that offenders will return to jail be a factor in increasing parole breaches?
MR CORBELL: No, not in the slightest. The reason I say that is that the Sentence Administration Board members, and indeed the courts—because the courts are also capable—are capable of returning an offender to custody should they breach their parole as a consequence, for example, of committing a further offence. In those circumstances the government has every confidence that the office holders of the Sentence Administration Board, the members and the presidential member, or indeed our magistrates, do not have regard to any concerns about accommodation availability but instead make their determination consistent with the law. I would be surprised if those opposite were suggesting that those members would do otherwise.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Attorney, has the tripling of parole breaches had an impact on community safety?
MR CORBELL: Parole breaches are treated seriously by the relevant agencies, in particular by corrections, Policing, the Sentence Administration Board and the courts. They make an individualised assessment as to questions of community safety, but I am confident that they do so diligently and in accordance with the law.
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