Extended supervision
An extended supervision order (ESO) is used to both monitor and manage the long-term risk posed by a high risk sex offender or a very high risk violent offender who is back in the community. It means that the offender remains visible to relevant agencies so that any risk is quickly identified and managed by the right people. The order includes support with relapse prevention strategies – such as support planning meetings.
ESOs are imposed by the court.Offenders on extended supervision orders can be monitored for up to 10 years at a time following their release from prison.
Monitoring a person’s activity or location over a longer period of time reduces the likelihood of them being in a situation where they are at risk of re-offending.
Who can be subject to extended supervision?
Corrections can apply for, and the court can impose, an extended supervision order on a person who has been:
- convicted of a relevant sexual or violent offence and sentenced to a finite term of imprisonment
- assessed as having a real and on-going risk of further sexual or violent offending.
Relevant offences include:
- most sexual offences
- objectionable material offences
- sexual offences against a person with a significant impairment
- serious violent offences.
How extended supervision works
A person on extended supervision will be actively monitored and supervised by Corrections for as long they pose a real and on-going risk of further serious sexual or violent offending.
A person on an order is subject to requirements similar to parole. This means they:
- will have to report to their probation officer regularly
- may be obliged to attend treatment programmes and counselling
- will be subject to residence and employment constraints
- will be subject to restrictions about contact with their victims and other people or groups of people
- may be subject to electronic monitoring, GPS and restrictions on where they can live.
Conditions an offender must follow
Special conditions could also apply, such as restrictions on being in certain places and doing certain activities.
The highest risk people may be placed under home detention-like conditions and electronic monitoring may be imposed as a special condition.
Some extremely high risk offenders may be monitored by another person for up to 24-hours a day for the first 12 months of their extended supervision order.
Holding offenders to account
If someone breaches their order they may be charged in court and, if convicted, could be sentenced to up to two years’ imprisonment.