Adult Parole Board of Victoria2008 - 2009 Annual Report

Performing an Important Role in Managing a Key Componentof the Victorian Criminal Justice System for more than 50 years

Adult Parole Board of Victoria2008 - 2009 Annual Report

Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

Letter to the MinisterThe Honourable Bob Cameron MPMinister for CorrectionsLevel 26, 121 Exhibition StreetMelbourne VIC 3000

Dear Minister

In accordance with the requirementsof s72(1) of the Corrections Act 1986,we are pleased to present this AnnualReport of the performance andoperations of the Adult Parole Boardof Victoria for the twelve months from1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009. Thereport contains information about the:

• number of persons released onparole

• number of persons returned toprison on cancellation of parole

• number of persons placed on homedetention orders

• number of persons whose homedetention order has been revokedand who were returned to prison

• impact of home detention orderson persons residing with offenders

• number of persons in respect ofwhom an extended supervisionorder or interim extendedsupervision order was made underthe Serious Sex OffendersMonitoring Act 2005

• number of persons transferred toprison from a youth justice centre,and transferred from prison to ayouth justice centre

• activities and achievements of theBoard and Secretariat.

Yours sincerely

The Hon Justice Simon WhelanChairperson10 August 2009

David ProvanGeneral Manager10 August 2009

About Our Annual ReportThe Annual Report is the majorpublication produced by the Board.It complies with the requirements ofthe Corrections Act 1986 and is usedto inform Parliament, government,criminal justice agencies, the media,students and members of thecommunity about the Board’s activitiesand achievements.

As well as discharging our statutoryresponsibilities, the Annual Report is anopportunity to explain the work of theBoard and to showcase our staff intheir daily work environment. We printand distribute 500 copies each yearand, once tabled in Parliament, theAnnual Report is available from ourwebsite atwww.justice.vic.gov.au/paroleboard.

DefinitionsThroughout this report, unlessotherwise specified, references to:

‘the Act, or sections ‘of the Act’, arereferences to the Corrections Act 1986

‘the Board’ is a reference to the AdultParole Board of Victoria

‘CCO’ is a reference to a CommunityCorrections Officer

‘CCS’ is a reference to CommunityCorrectional Services, a Division ofCorrections Victoria

‘the Department’ is a reference to theVictorian Department of Justice

‘ESO’ is a reference to an ExtendedSupervision Order

‘ESOTAC’ is a reference to theExtended Supervision Order TemporaryAccommodation Centre

‘PPC’ is a reference to the ParolePractice Committee

‘SSOMA’ is a reference to the SeriousSex Offenders Monitoring Act 2005.

VisionThe Board’s vision is to make the Stateof Victoria a safer place to live for all itscitizens.

MissionThe Board’s mission is to manage theappropriate release of offenders onparole, home detention orders, and inrelation to extended supervision orders,for the benefit of the Victoriancommunity. The Board aims to makerisk assessments that are rigorous, fairand timely.

Our ObjectivesOur objectives are to:

• Fulfil our statutory obligationsunder the Corrections Act 1986,Corrections and Sentencing Act(Home Detention) Acts 2003,Children, Youth and Families Act2005 and regulations, and theSerious Sex Offender MonitoringAct 2005, efficiently and effectivelyand in the best interests of thecommunity.

• Make independent and appropriatedecisions regarding the release ofoffenders on supervised conditionalrelease or home detention ordersand in relation to determininginstructions and directions forextended supervision orders.

• Make appropriate orders relatingto cancelling parole or homedetention orders and returningoffenders to prison custody.

• Ensure that offenders are properlyprepared to reintegrate into thecommunity.

• Maintain a program of continuousimprovement including the ongoingreview of management practicesand strategic plans.

• Develop and sustain anorganisational culture of excellencethrough best practice humanresource management.

• Develop a flexible, responsiveand skilled administrative staff byproviding a safe, challenging andteam-oriented work environment,and professional developmentopportunities.

• Maintain the efficient, effectiveand responsible management andcontrol of the Board’s finances andensure public accountability.

• Promote the accessibility andefficiency of the Board byincreasing stakeholder awarenessof its functions and powers.

Who We AreThe Board was established in 1957after the Victorian Parliament passedthe Penal Reform Act 1956. The Boardreplaced the Indeterminate SentencesBoard which had been in operationsince 1908.

The concept and development of theoperation of the adult parole system inVictoria was initiated by the Inspector-General of Penal Establishments, MrAlexander Whatmore and TheHonourable Sir Justice John Barry,Judge of the Supreme Court ofVictoria.

Notices appearing in the VictorianGovernment Gazette during June andJuly 1957 heralded a new era for theparole system. The Penal Reformlegislation received Royal Assent inMay 1956 and came into operation on1 July 1957 by virtue of a proclamationdated 25 June 1957.

The first meeting of the Board was heldon 3 July 1957 at the Office of theDirector of Penal Services, Old TreasuryBuilding, Spring Street, Melbourne.

What We DoAs an independent statutory body,the Board is established under theCorrections Act 1986. The Board hasjurisdiction over the following offendergroups:

• offenders for whom a court hasordered a prison sentence wherea non-parole period applies, and

• young persons transferred to prisonfrom a youth justice centre underpart 5.6 of the Children, Youth andFamilies Act 2005 and regulations.

In addition, the Board has jurisdiction:

• to grant a home detention order,under the provisions of theCorrections and Sentencing Act(Home Detention) Acts 2003, and

• pursuant to the Serious Sex OffenderMonitoring Act 2005, to determineappropriate instructions anddirections (special conditions) inrespect of an extended supervisionorder and to supervise offenderswho are subject to such an order.

How We Do ItThe Board provides a framework thatenables offenders to undertake a step-by-step re-entry into the community.When deciding whether to release anoffender on parole or home detention,the Board considers the interests of thecommunity, the rights of the victim, theintentions of the sentencing authorityand the needs of the offender.

Preparing offenders for release on paroleor a home detention order begins assoon as they enter the prison system.The Board meets with offenders at arelatively early stage during theirsentences. These meetings ensurethat offenders undertake appropriateprograms designed to assist them to re-enter society successfully. On a moreregular basis, the Board interviews someoffenders who have been convicted ofserious offences or those who havepsychiatric issues. The Board needs tobe satisfied that such offenders are wellequipped to be reintegrated into thecommunity on release. Throughregular interviews, the Board canmonitor their progress for anappropriate period prior to releaseon parole or home detention.

Profile

1Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

2 Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

Contents

Profile 1

Highlights 3

Year at a Glance 4

Chairperson’s Message 6

General Manager’s Report 9

Business Plan Overview 12

Our Performance 14

Case Management 15

People on Parole 18

People on Home Detention 22

People on Extended Supervision Orders 24

Our Organisation 27

Governance Policies 28

Board Members 29

Staff Profile 34

Management Team 37

Organisational Chart 38

Community Relationships 39

Visitor Profile 40

Privacy/Information 41

Financial Performance 42

Index 43

Contact Details and Location 44

3Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

Highlights 2008 - 2009

• Justice John Coldrey, retired Judgeof the Supreme Court of Victoria,was appointed as a JudicialMember from 2 December 2008for a three year term.

• Ms Carmel Arthur was appointedas a Community Member from 2December 2008 for a three yearterm.

• A comprehensive orientation andinduction program for JusticeColdrey and Ms Arthur wasdelivered on 20 February 2009.

• A Members’ Meeting was held on17 February 2009 and a number ofguest speakers delivered shortpresentations.

• The Board held its Annual GeneralMeeting on 27 March 2009.

• Justice Whelan (Chairperson)and Michael Hepworth (Full-TimeMember) attended a meeting ofparole authorities in New Zealandon 16 and 17 November 2008.

• A review and restructure of theBoard’s secretariat was undertakenin November 2008. Two newadministrative positions werecreated.

• Introduced the Board’s 2008/09business plan, covering a rangeof projects designed to improvethe Board’s operations.

• On 29 May 2009, members ofthe secretariat participated ina planning day. A three yearstrategic business plan wasdeveloped for the 2009/2012period.

• The Board continued to facilitateevery second prison sitting viavideoconference. The use oftechnology to conduct hearingsmaximises the benefits of theBoard’s ‘state-of-the-art'videoconferencing equipmentat 444 Swanston Street.

• The Parole Practice Committee(PPC) held its inaugural meeting atthe Board on 19 February 2008 andcontinued to meet quarterly during2008/09. The PPC membershipincludes representatives from eachCommunity Correctional Services(CCS) region together with staffof the Board. The Committee’spurpose is to provide a forumwhere participants can suggestideas for improvement, discussissues, challenges and developingtrends, as well as engage inactivities and joint projects that willstrengthen the working relationshipbetween CCS and the Board.

• A first aid officer was appointedand participated in a two daytraining course on 1 and 2 June2009.

• Registry staff participated in a tourof the County Court on 11 June2009.

• Staff of the registry participated inprivacy training on 20 November2008.

• The Victoria Police Operation ROPE(Recidivist Offenders ParoleEnforcement) program commencedon 1 July 2008. Staff of OperationROPE are responsible for executingthe warrants of apprehension thatare issued by the Board. During2008/09, Victoria Police andOperations ROPE staff executed271 warrants of apprehension.

• Delivered 14 presentations aboutthe work of the Board to a numberof organisations and communitygroups.

• Increased opportunities forrepresentatives of stakeholdergroups to visit the Board andobserve its decision-makingprocess. During 2008/09, 75visitors attended meetings toobserve the work of the Board.

• Sonja deFriez, CommunicationManager of the New ZealandParole Board, visited the VictorianBoard on 15 and 16 August 2008.

• Established detailed staffPerformance Management andProgression Plans for 2008/09.

• Staff participated in professionaldevelopment opportunitiesdesigned to enhance servicequality.

• Appointed two Occupational,Health and Safety representativeswho, in March 2009, participatedin a five day training program.

Opp page: Eloise Bellis(Administrative Assistant - Receptionist)

Victoria Police Operation ROPE staff (from left toright): Detective Sergeant Mick Gunn, SeniorConstable Craig Goudy, Senior Constable NiallWaring and Senior Constable Len Clark

Newly appointed members, Justice John Coldreyand Ms Carmel Arthur

Year at a Glance

2008/09 2007/08 2006/07 % Change

Case ManagementCases considered 8,605 8,520 8,529 1.0

Board meeting days 129 123 129 4.9

Meetings at prisons 50 51 53 (2.0)

Prisoners in custody (at 30 June) 4,350 4,223 4,183 3.0

Prisoners eligible for parole (at 30 June) 2,937 2,852 2,755 3.0

Prisoners interviewed at prison 1,489 1,606 1,700 (7.3)

Parole orders made 1,656 1,601 1,526 3.4

Parole orders completed successfully 1,094 1,010 962 8.3

Parole orders denied 190 186 194 2.2

Submissions from victims 51 77 49 (33.8)

Cancellation of OrdersParole orders breached 973 887 903 9.7

Parole orders cancelled 489 435 520 12.4

Reason for cancelling parole orders due to:

• failure to comply with conditions of parole 357 324 335 10.2

• further conviction and sentence 132 111 185 18.9

Length of parole served prior to cancellation:

• day of release to less than three months 179 163 159 9.8

• three to less than six months 108 93 120 16.1

• six to less than 12 months 106 84 116 26.2

• 12 months or more 96 95 125 1.1

Breaches not resulting in cancellation 484 452 383 7.1

Warnings issued relating to breaches not resulting in cancellation by:

• Board 146 148 107 (1.4)

• Community Correctional Services staff 310 278 187 11.5

• letter from the Board 12 24 49 (50)

Cases where no further action was taken by Boardrelating to breaches not resulting in cancellation 16 2 40 700

4 Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

2008/09 2007/08 2006/07 % Change

Home Detention OrdersHome detention applications received 311 292 295 6.5

Home detention orders made by the Board 83 63 47 31.7

Home detention orders made by the courts 18 21 42 (14.3)

Home detention orders revoked 10 4 9 150

Extended Supervision OrdersInstructions and directions imposed 22 7 7 214.3

Youth TransfersTransfers from Prison to a Youth Justice Centre 4 2 2 100

Transfers from a Youth Justice Centre to Prison 14 20 13 (30)

Interstate TransfersParole orders transferred from Victoria 27 19 47 42.1

Parole orders transferred to Victoria 30 25 24 20.0

Members of the BoardJudicial members 12 11 11 9.1

Full-time members 1 1 1 -

Community members 8 7 9 14.3

Departmental representatives 1 1 1 -

Total members 22 20 22 10

Staff of the BoardTotal employees 18 16 15 12.5

Parole Orders Caseflow – 2006/07 to 2008/09Orders Orders Orders Orders OrdersMade Breached Completed Denied Cancelled

2006/07 1,526 903 962 194 520

2007/08 1,601 887 1,010 186 435

2008/09 1,656 973 1,094 190 489

5Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

Chairperson’s Message

When a person is sentenced toimprisonment in Victoria there is onlyone sentence. The prisoner is servingthat sentence until the last day hasexpired. But the sentencing judge can,and usually will, fix what is called anon-parole period. After that periodhas expired, a prisoner can bepermitted to serve the rest of the termof imprisonment in the communitysubject to conditions and undersupervision. The Adult Parole Boarddecides whether to allow a prisoner toserve part of their sentence this way;it sets the conditions, and it deals withreported non-compliance. Prisonerswho comply with the law and theconditions imposed can serve thebalance of their sentence outside jail.Those who do not are liable to havetheir parole cancelled and, if thatoccurs, they are returned to prison.

This system of parole helps to protectthe public by enabling the re-introduction of offenders into thecommunity under supervision and withthe immediate prospect of a return toprison if circumstances warrant it. Italso gives offenders an opportunity tofurther their own rehabilitation and tore-build their relationships outside jailbefore their term of imprisonment hasended.

As is the case in many areas, theextent of supervision must be limitedby the resources available. But,subject to those inevitable constraints,the system is strict. Parolees can be,and often are, cancelled and returnedto prison. On occasions, they godirectly from the hearing room backinto custody. Often parolees arecancelled in their absence. The systemhas to be strict, and cancellation is anecessary part of that. The Board’swide powers to respond to non-compliance are an important factorin enabling the Board to grant parole.

The Board also has responsibility fordetermining whether home detentionwill be granted to eligible prisoners andfor determining the instructions anddirections which apply to sex offendersunder extended supervision orders.

This brief description of the Board’s rolereveals both the importance and thedifficulty of the decisions it makes.

Over the last year the Board’s membershave made 8,605 such decisions, andconducted 129 hearings. That is aremarkable achievement by themembers and the staff.

Last year I referred to two importantissues that were in the process ofbeing dealt with at that time, the firstconcerned the Human Rights Charterand the second concerned the futureadministration of extended supervisionorders.

Charter of Human Rightsand ResponsibilitiesOver the last year a great deal of timeand effort has been expended by theBoard, by the Department of Justiceand by the relevant Ministers on thevery difficult issue of the interactionbetween the Board’s legislativefunction and its methods of operationon the one hand and the Charter ofHuman Rights and Responsibilitieson the other. Advice from outsidecounsel has been obtained and muchconsideration has been given to theway in which competing policypriorities can be reconciled. The issuesare very complex. The Attorney-General is expected to shortlyannounce the government’s decisionon this issue.

Extended Supervision OrdersExtended supervision orders, both finaland interim, are increasing, as waspredicted. In this area protection ofthe community is the primary concern.It is important to record that so farinstances of breaches of extendedsupervision orders have been few innumber.

6 Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

The Board’s wide powers torespond to non-compliance arean important factor in enablingthe Board to grant parole.

Corrections Victoria has dedicated, andis continuing to dedicate, substantialresources to persons on extendedsupervision orders. The staff involvedare making significant efforts topromote the rehabilitation, care,and treatment of the offenders.Notwithstanding these continuingefforts, it must be said that thecircumstances in which a number ofthose on extended supervision ordersare presently living are not conduciveto their rehabilitation.

While the number of persons subjectto extended supervision orders is small,the Board’s experience has been thatthey occupy a greatly disproportionateamount of the Board’s time andresources. The need for a specialistbody to deal with these offenders hasbecome apparent over time.

For a considerable period, Boardmembers and staff have been workingwith officers of the Department ofJustice and the relevant Ministers onthe future administration of extendedsupervision orders for sex offenders.More recently, that work has had toaddress proposed legislative changeswhich the government has announced.The process of finalising the newsystem is still being undertaken.

Areas for ImprovementThere is always room for improvementin any system. The corrections systemis no exception. From my perspective,as Chairperson of the Adult ParoleBoard, there are three important areaswhere improvements could be made.

First, the single greatest difficulty facedby prisoners seeking parole, and byoffenders on parole, is accommodation.Corrections Victoria is aware of theneed in this area. There are housingworkers in most prisons andCorrections Victoria works withgovernment and other housingagencies to assist in findingaccommodation. The experienceof the Board is that often the only

accommodation that can be found isless than ideal. The circumstances ofa parolee’s accommodation are a verysignificant factor in the risk ofrecidivism. It is perhaps time forserious consideration to be given toa more sophisticated system ofsupported halfway houses for paroleesand newly released prisoners. Greateravailability of appropriate accommodationwould enhance community safety byreducing the risk of recidivism.

Second, Corrections Victoria hasallocated significant resources todeveloping and maintaining programsin prison that address thecircumstances that led to offenderscommitting offences. The Board’sexperience is that further thought anddiscussion as to how to provideprograms to all prisoners who needthem could improve the system further.In particular, the Board’s view is that allsex offenders assessed as suitable fortreatment should do a sex offenderprogram in prison. Under the currentarrangements, that is not alwayspossible. The other area in which theBoard would like to see greateravailability of programs is in the areaof violence intervention.

Finally, the area of mental health isan area of concern. A high proportionof prisoners and parolees suffer fromsome form of mental illness. TheBoard is aware that resources formental health generally are limited.Prisoners and parolees have high needsin this area. When those needs are notmet, it is the community as a wholewhich potentially suffers. Onoccasions the Board has been put inthe position of having to cancel theparole of a person because of the riskof injury to themselves or others whenit seemed to the Board that the issuewas really one that appropriate mentalhealth services would have addressedbetter.

New MembersOver the last year there were twosignificant additions to the membershipof the Board.

Justice Coldrey was appointed to theBoard as a judicial member. JusticeColdrey was a judge of the SupremeCourt of Victoria for 17 years andbefore that was the Director of PublicProsecutions. He has served on anumber of advisory committees inrelation to criminal matters. He bringsan unparalleled wealth of criminal lawexperience to the Board.

Carmel Arthur joined the Board thisyear as a community member. MsArthur is a member of the SentencingAdvisory Council. Her involvement inthe criminal justice system arose asa consequence of being a victim ofcrime. In that respect she brings animportant perspective to the Board.In her professional life, Ms Arthur hasworked in building and facilitiesmanagement for more than twentyyears and has held important positionsin both the public and private sectors.

The Board is very fortunate to havetwo such outstanding new members.

Professional Developmentfor MembersThe Board undertook some significantprofessional development activities formembers over the past year. A halfday meeting was held on 17 February2009 at which presentations weremade by:

• Dr Kerry Devine, SeniorPsychologist, Dame Phyllis FrostCentre - Making Choices Program

• Chelsea Manners, JessicaWotherspoon and Wendy Droney,Melbourne Citymission - Women'sIntegrated Support Program (WISP)

• Anatolie Frawley and LeanneBarnes, Strategic and FinancialServices - Projected PrisonerNumbers - Outcomes of the 2008Prisoner Projections Process

7Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

8 Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

• Rob Francis, Senior Project Officer,Drugs Policy Unit - Alcohol andAnger Management TreatmentProgram

• John Black, General Manager,Community Correctional Services,Gippsland Region and Alfie Oliva,Programs Manager, OffenderManagement Services.

On Friday 27 March 2009, an all-dayannual general meeting was held,which was also attended by allavailable staff. A short presentationwas made by Brendan Money,Assistant Commissioner for OffenderManagement Services, and thebalance of the day was spentaddressing issues of particularrelevance to our day to day workincluding consistency in decisionmaking, the Charter of Human Rightsand Responsibilities, mental healthdisorders, access to prisons, andbusiness planning and research. It wasa very worthwhile exercise. It is hopedthat a further meeting of a similar kindwill be held before the end of this year.The full time member and I attended ameeting of parole authorities in NewZealand on 16 and 17 November 2008.

AcknowledgmentsThe past year has been a difficult onein many ways for the general managerand for the staff. Our long termoperations manager, Anna Djuric, hadto take extensive time off as a resultof a serious illness suffered by a closefamily member. Our registry manager,Cheryn Leahy, went on maternity leave.This, to some extent unexpectedcombination of circumstances, placeda significant strain on all staff. Therewere difficulties. The staff rose to thechallenge magnificently. In particular,I would like to express my appreciationto Tonniette Santiano, who acted in theposition of operations manager, and toJoanne Papadopoulos who is acting inthe registry manager's position.

Anna Djuric resigned in May 2009. Shehad been a member of the Board staffsince December 1993. Hercontribution to the work of the Boardover those years was very significantand much appreciated by Boardmembers and by her fellow staffmembers. We are most fortunate tohave retained Pauline Bailey as the newoperations manager.

I must express my unboundedappreciation for the work of DavidProvan as general manager, andMichael Hepworth as full time member.To say that their work is invaluable isnot to overstate the matter.

Finally, during the year Kelvin Andersonresigned as Commissioner ofCorrections in order to take up aposition in Queensland. I express myappreciation for Kelvin's work with theBoard during my time and I lookforward to working with the newlyappointed Commissioner, RobertHastings APM.

The Hon Justice Simon WhelanChairperson

General Manager’s Report

The 2008/09 year was anotherchallenging period in which theadministrative staff efficiently manageda demanding caseload during a time ofsignificant change.

The administrative staff of the Board ismade up of a team of very dedicatedand highly motivated individuals whostrive collectively to deliver the highestlevel of service to members, the publicand their colleagues in the correctionssystem.

Staff MovementsThere were a number of staffmovements during the year. CherynLeahy, the Board’s Registry Manager,became a mother for the first timegiving birth to a daughter in October2008. Cheryn will be on maternityleave until 15 February 2010. AnnetteTing retired on 18 July 2008. Annette’sloyal and dedicated service over morethan 20 years is very much appreciatedby members and staff of the Board.

The following staff left the Board during2008/09:

Anna Djuric

Rebecca Donne

Melissa Gale

Christian Gonzalez

Christie Hall

Claire Waghorne

Kandie Whichello

The members and staff thank thesepersonnel for their contribution to thework of the Board and wish them wellfor the future.

Appointments – AdministrativeStaffValerie Babet, Ruth Hajal and HannahWilliams commenced as MeetingCoordinators.

Pauline Bailey commenced as theOperations Manager.

Eloise Bellis commenced as theAdministrative Assistant (Receptionist).

Emma Hyde commenced as a MeetingAssistant.

Karlie McDermott commenced as theAssistant Coordinator – HomeDetention.

Joanne Papadopoulos commencedas the Acting Registry Manager.

Kirrilee Till commenced as the SeniorRegistry Officer.

The new staff to the Board haveconducted themselves in anenthusiastic and professional mannersince joining the team.

Review and RestructureA review and restructure of the Board’ssecretariat was undertaken inNovember 2008 and a significantoutcome of that review was thecreation of two new administrativepositions. On 19 January 2009,Tonniette Santiano was appointed tothe Senior Operations Officer positionand Kirrilee Till to the Senior RegistryOfficer position. I take this opportunityto congratulate Tonniette and Kirrileeon their appointment to theseimportant roles.

9Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

10 Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

Business PlanDuring the year under review, aBusiness Plan 2008/09 was preparedto identify objectives and performancetargets and to set priorities to achievethe Board’s objectives. On 29 May2009, members of the secretariatparticipated in a planning day andcontributed to the development ofa three year strategic business planfor the 2009/2012 period.

Use of VideoconferencingEquipment to Conduct HearingsThe Board continued to facilitateevery second prison sitting viavideoconference. The programcommenced in January 2008 andmaximises the benefits of the Board’s‘state-of-the-art’ videoconferencingequipment at 444 Swanston Street.The approach minimises disruption toprison operations, increasesproductivity (given the significant timestaff and members would have spenttravelling to and from prisons) andreduces the risks associated with staffand members who travelled over60,000 kilometres a year.

Parole Practice CommitteeThe Parole Practice Committee (PPC)held its inaugural meeting at the Boardon 19 February 2008 and continued tomeet quarterly during 2008/09. ThePPC membership includesrepresentatives from each CommunityCorrectional Services (CCS) regiontogether with staff of the Board. TheCommittee’s purpose is to provide aforum where participants can suggestideas for improvement, discuss issues,challenges and developing trends, aswell as engage in activities and jointprojects that will strengthen theworking relationship between CCSand the Board.

Administrative Work PracticesIn order to improve organisationalefficiency, the Board undertook thefollowing activities:

• met regularly with registry andoperations staff

• conducted a planning workshopon 29 May 2009

• designed and implemented qualityassurance procedures.

Home DetentionNow in its sixth year of operation, theHome Detention Program enables theBoard to release non-violent, low-security offenders convicted ofspecified offences to home detention,after serving two thirds of theirsentences in prison.

I thank Melissa Gale (from 16 July2007 until 22 August 2008), RebeccaDonne (from 1 September 2008 until6 March 2009) and Karlie McDermott(from 10 March 2009) for theprofessional and dedicated approachthey have provided in managing theBoard’s home detention work.

Information TechnologyOn 2 May 2005, the Criminal JusticeEnhancement Project (CJEP) computersystem was introduced at the Board bythe Department of Justice. Althoughthere have been many developmentsand enhancements to the CJEPsystem, the Prisoner InformationManagement System (PIMS) stillremains the database of record.

During the early stages of the project,Tonniette Santiano represented theBoard and worked with the computeranalysts to design the Board’sfunctionality. Since May 2005,Tonniette has performed the rolesof acceptance testing, training andsupport as well as undertaking the

General Manager’s Report cont.

The achievements of the last yearreflect the commitment andprofessional approach of theBoard’s members and our highlyskilled and dedicated staff.

11Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

duties of her substantive position asthe Senior Operations Officer. KirrileeTill was appointed during the yearunder review to work with Tonnietteto support the developments andenhancements to the CJEP system.I thank Tonniette and Kirrilee for theirwork throughout the year.

Performance Managementand Progression PlansIn July 2008, all staff prepared(in consultation with their manager) adetailed Performance Management andProgression Plan. Each plan outlinesthe officer’s work priorities and theknowledge and skills required tosupport their current and future job andcareer needs. Feedback and reviewmeetings were conducted in July 2008and January 2009 and focused on theofficer's current level of performanceand the ways in which they couldimprove.

The performance management cycleruns from 1 July of each year until 30June the following year and providesa mechanism for evaluating work andrewarding good performance basedon outcomes.

Financial ManagementDuring the year, the Board maintainedefficient, effective and responsiblemanagement and control over itsfinances, and ensured publicaccountability by regularly reviewingits expenditure. However, the Board’sexpenditure was $61,135 over theallocated budget because of anincrease in rental expenses and theappointment of two additionaladministrative staff.

AcknowledgmentsI wish to acknowledge the efforts andservices of the following agencies,organisations and individuals who havesupported the work of the Board duringthe last year:

• Australian Community SupportOrganisation (ACSO) staff

• Brendan Money, Acting AssistantCommissioner – OffenderManagement Services, CorrectionsVictoria

• Cangi Capraro and Gill Crimmins,Corrections Victoria

• Clinical Services (CorrectionsVictoria) staff

• Community Correctional Servicesstaff

• Community Offenders Advice andTreatment Service (COATS) staff

• Corrections Victoria employeesincluding the staff at the twoprivately operated prisons –Port Phillip Prison and FulhamCorrectional Centre

• Forensicare staff

• Home Detention Unit (CorrectionsVictoria) staff

• Jan Shuard, Deputy Commissioner– Community Correctional Servicesand Sex Offender Management,Corrections Victoria

• Kelvin Anderson, PSM, formerCommissioner – CorrectionsVictoria and the newly appointedCommissioner, Robert HastingsAPM

• Malcolm Feiner, PSM, Manager ofthe Corrections Victoria Researchand Evaluation Unit

• Offender Management Services(Corrections Victoria) staff

• Sex Offender Program Unit(Corrections Victoria) staff

• Victoria Police, Operation ROPEand Carlton Police Station staff

• Victorian Association for the Careand Resettlement of Offenders(VACRO) staff.

ConclusionThe achievements of the last yearreflect the commitment andprofessional approach of the Board’smembers and our highly skilled anddedicated staff. I thank JusticeWhelan and the members for theiron-going support.

I am grateful to the Board’smanagement team members – PaulineBailey and Joanne Papadopoulos – andthe Board’s full-time member, MichaelHepworth, who have worked tirelesslythroughout the year. I thank Pauline,Joanne and Michael for undertakingtheir respective roles with suchdedication and professionalism.

Despite many challenges tackledduring the past 12 months, all staffcontinued to deliver an excellent levelof service to the Board, theircolleagues in the corrections systemand the community. I take thisopportunity to record my gratitude forthe significant contribution that eachstaff member has made throughoutthe year.

David ProvanGeneral Manager

12 Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

Business Plan Overview

The Board’s Business Plan builds on our previous achievements and charts acourse for the future. The 2008/09 plan was prepared to identify project initiativesand key priorities to achieve the Board’s objectives. In addition, the plan aims topromote a performance-driven culture at the Board and to provide a platform forpursuing continuous improvement at every opportunity.

Objectives What We Achieved

• Fulfil our statutory obligationsunder the Corrections Act 1986,Corrections and Sentencing Act(Home Detention) Acts 2003,Children, Youth and Families Act2005 and the Serious Sex OffenderMonitoring Act 2005 efficiently andeffectively and in the best interestsof the community.

• Conducted 8,605 hearings (8,520 in 2007/08).

• Conducted 129 meetings (123 in 2007/08). Fifty meetings were held at variousVictorian prisons where the Board interviewed 1,489 offenders and 79meetings were held at the Board’s office, Community Correctional Serviceslocations and at the Thomas Embling Hospital.

• Make independent and appropriatedecisions regarding the release ofoffenders on supervised conditionalrelease or home detention ordersand in relation to extendedsupervision orders.

• Made 1,656 orders that offenders be released on supervised conditionalrelease (1,601 in 2007/08).

• Made 83 home detention orders (63 in 2007/08).

• Considered and imposed instructions and directions on 22 extendedsupervision orders (seven in 2007/08).

• Make appropriate orders relatingto cancelling parole or homedetention orders and returningoffenders to prison custody.

• Cancelled 489 parole orders (435 in 2007/08).

• Revoked 10 home detention orders (four in 2007/08).

• Ensure that offenders are properlyprepared to reintegrate into thecommunity.

• Continued to provide a case management function for parolees by interviewingprisoners early in their sentence to identify rehabilitation objectives beforebeing considered for parole.

• Conducted regular interviews with prisoners and obtained reports so that theBoard could monitor their progress for an appropriate period prior to releaseon parole.

• Maintain a program of continuousimprovement including the ongoingreview of management practicesand strategic plans.

• Introduced the Board’s 2008/09 business plan covering a range of projectsdesigned to improve the Board’s operations.

• A review and restructure of the Board’s secretariat was undertaken inNovember 2008. Two new administrative positions were created.

• On 29 May 2009, members of the secretariat participated in a planning day.A three year strategic business plan was developed for the 2009/2012 period.

• Conducted regular planning meetings with registry and operations staff.

• Increased staff involvement in strategic projects as leaders or working partymembers.

• Identified opportunities to streamline business practices and procedures.

• Implemented quality assurance procedures.

• Responded to all incoming correspondence within 14 days of receipt.

13Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

• Develop and sustain anorganisational culture of excellencethrough best practice humanresource management.

• Increased the Board’s membership by the appointment of The HonourableJustice John Coldrey and Ms Carmel Arthur. Justice Coldrey and Ms Arthurwere appointed on 2 December 2008 for a three year term.

• A comprehensive orientation and induction program for Justice Coldreyand Ms Arthur was delivered on 20 February 2009.

• Conducted regular debriefing sessions with staff.

• A Members’ Meeting was held 17 February 2009 and a number of guestspeakers delivered short presentations.

• The Board held its Annual General Meeting on 27 March 2009.

• Develop a flexible, responsiveand skilled administrative staff byproviding a safe, challenging andteam-oriented work environmentand professional developmentopportunities.

• Prepared detailed staff Performance Management and Progression Plansfor 2008/09.

• Staff participated in professional development opportunities designedto enhance service quality.

• Staff of the registry participated in privacy training on 20 November 2008.

• Appointed two Occupational, Health and Safety representatives who,in March 2009, participated in a five day training program.

• A first aid officer was appointed and participated in a two day training courseon 1 and 2 June 2009.

• Registry staff participated in a tour of the County Court on 11 June 2009.

• Justice Whelan (Chairperson) and Michael Hepworth (Full-Time Member)attended a meeting of parole authorities in New Zealand on 16 and 17November 2008.

• Conducted feedback and review meetings every six months.

• Provided higher duties assignments for staff.

• Conducted regular debriefing sessions after prison meetings to ensure staffwellbeing.

• Maintain efficient, effective andresponsible management andcontrol of the Board’s financesand ensure public accountability.

• The Board’s expenditure was $61,135 over the allocated budget becauseof an increase in rental expenses and the appointment of two additionaladministrative staff.

• Maintained efficient, effective and responsible management and control overthe Board’s finances, and ensured public accountability by regularly reviewingthe expenditure.

• Reviewed compliance requirements with respect to personal expenses.

• Promote the accessibility andefficiency of the Board byincreasing awareness of itsfunctions and powers.

• Delivered 14 presentations about the work of the Board to organisationsand community groups.

• Maintained an active ‘observers program’. During 2008/09, 75 visitorsattended meetings to observe the work of the Board.

14 Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

Our Performance

15Adult Parole Board of Victoria 2008 / 2009 Annual Report

Case ManagementDuring 2008/09 the Board met on129 occasions (123 in 2007/08) andconsidered 8,605 matters (8,520 in2007/08). This result represents anincrease of 1.0% in the number ofcases considered, compared withthe previous financial year. The tablebelow shows the total number of casesconsidered.

Total Number of CasesConsidered 2002/03 to 2008/092002/03 6,732

2003/04 7,061

2004/05 7,515

2005/06 7,643

2006/07 8,529

2007/08 8,520

2008/09 8,605

The complexity of cases involvingoffenders, both in custody and onparole, placed considerable demands onthe Board’s time in determining cases.The Board continued to monitor specificoffenders who had been released onparole with problems involvingpsychiatric and accommodation issues,and the risk of drug use.

Number of Board Meetings Conducted to Consider Cases 2002/03to 2008/09

Meetings Held Board’s Office/in Prisons CCS Centres/Other Total

2002/03 51 61 112

2003/04 52 63 115

2004/05 54 62 116

2005/06 51 66 117

2006/07 53 76 129

2007/08 51 72 123

2008/09 50 79 129

To monitor such offenders, the Boardrequired offenders to attend interviewsregularly at its office or, if they residedin country Victoria, their closestCommunity Correctional Servicesoffice. The Board requested reportsfrom Community Correctional Servicesto keep informed of the progress ofsuch offenders. The transient and drugculture lifestyle of many offenders priorto their imprisonment usually presentsdifficulties for them in obtaining newaccommodation on release. Suchregular reports enable the Board tointervene and re-direct the lifestyleof offenders. The Board maintains itsinvolvement with offenders on parole,and takes appropriate action whennecessary, to ensure offenders are ableto meet the conditions of their parole.

Prison VisitsOf the 129 occasions the Board met,50 meetings were held at variousVictorian prisons (51 in 2007/08)where the Board interviewed 1,489offenders (1,606 in 2007/08). Thisresult represents a decline of 7.3% inthe number of offenders interviewedby the Board at prison and a declineof 2.0% in prison visits, compared with2007/08.

The Board aims to ensure that alloffenders are aware of their obligationsand the consequences if they breachtheir parole. It is impossible, however,for the Board to interview all offenderswho are released on parole, particularlyif a court fixes short non-parole periodsfor offenders or where offenders aretransferred within the prison system.

If the Board does not interviewoffenders in prison, the full-timemember often interviews them byvideo conference prior to release or theBoard directs them to attend its office.Such offenders are then interviewedby either the Board or the full-timemember who fully advises them oftheir responsibilities and obligationsunder parole.

Offenders in CustodyOn 30 June 2009, the number ofoffenders eligible for parole totalled2,937, compared with 2,852 on 30June 2008. The number of offendersfluctuates over a 12-month period asoffenders enter and leave the prisonsystem on a daily basis, either afterhaving been released on parole orwhen their sentences expire. Forexample, the above figures do nottake into account offenders who weresentenced to a short non-parole periodand entered and left prison in the sameyear. The number of prisoners incustody totalled 4,350 as at 30 June2009 (4,223 as at 30 June 2008)representing a 3.0% increase overthe period.

Offenders Consideredfor ReleaseThe Board takes into account theindividual merits of each case todetermine the appropriate time torelease an offender on parole. Beforemaking its decision, the Board reviewsreports from Community CorrectionsOfficers (CCOs), custodial staff,medical practitioners, psychologistsand psychiatrists.

Opp page: Peka Pau (Meeting Assistant)