Service Performance: Output Class 1- Information Services

Output Performance for the Year Ended 30 June 2005

This output class covers the provision of information as requested by the courts and the New Zealand Parole Board to inform their respective decision-making processes. It includes the provision of psychological reports, remand pre-sentence reports (level 2 assessment reports), reparation reports, same-day reports (level 1 assessment reports), home detention reports and assessments, oral information reports, home leave and pre-release reports for prisoners, and information for extended supervision orders.6 Special purpose reports and advice are prepared for other relevant entities. Also included is the time Probation Officers spend attending court hearings.

OUTPUT CLASS STATEMENT: INFORMATION SERVICES
For the Year Ended 30 June 2006

*These figures also include the following adjustment under Section 26A of the Public Finance Act 1989:

OUTPUT 1.1 Sentencing Information and Advice to Courts

This output entails the preparation of reports (relating to remand pre-sentence [level 2], reparation including emotional harm, same-day [level 1], special purpose and oral information reports) that provide the sentencing judge with information on offenders to assist with the sentencing process. Also included is the time a Probation Officer spends attending court. This service includes attendance at court, prosecutions, and attendance at sentencing resulting from Community Probation Service-initiated proceedings.

Comments

Activity in this output class is driven by demand from courts, with 8% fewer requests for reports to courts than anticipated.

The number of written complaints received from judges at five was significantly below the forecast of 15, and compares with six complaints received in the 2004/05 financial year. This lower number continued trends from previous years, whereby the good informal communications channels established between the Department and judiciary mean that judges do not have to resort to formal written complaints.

OUTPUT 1.2 Parole Information and Advice to the New Zealand Parole Board

This output entails the preparation of pre-release reports that provide information to the New Zealand Parole Board about a prisoner's proposed residence and work, and the potential programmes that the prisoner should undertake on release from prison. Included is the time spent investigating release options and reporting on those and appropriate conditions.

Comment

The number of pre-release reports prepared for prisoners during the year was in line with expectations.

The percentage of pre-release reports provided to the Parole Board within the set deadlines was down on target but higher than in 2004/05.

During the year, the existing planning and reporting processes were reviewed in consultation with the New Zealand Parole Board, and revised processes and pre-release reports agreed. These changes were expected to improve the timeliness of delivery of reports to the Board. Necessary changes to the Department's computer systems initially delayed implementation of the revised processes and reports. Implementation of the improved reporting processes will take place later in 2006/07 once the changes to the computer systems have been completed.

OUTPUT 1.3 Home Leave Reports

This output entails the provision of home leave reports, including investigating the suitability of the sponsor and residence. The Public Prisons Service has the delegated authority to consider and approve home leave proposals. Community reaction to the planned home leave and the suitability of the proposed accommodation by a prisoner is also assessed.

Comment

The number of home leave reports delivered is demand-driven, dependent on an individual offender's decision to apply for home leave. The actual number of reports was below the forecast of 900. This forecast was based on previous years' actual numbers of reports of 1,109 in 2002/03 and 864 in 2003/04.

OUTPUT 1.4 Home Detention Assessments to the New Zealand Parole Board

This output entails the preparation of reports and assessments to the New Zealand Parole Board. The reports are to meet the application criteria including an assessment of the rehabilitative needs of the offender and his or her suitability to serve their sentence under home detention.

Comment

Demand for home detention specialist reports is driven by a number of factors: the number of offenders given leave to apply for home detention, the number of offenders who apply to the New Zealand Parole Board for home detention, and the number of home detention reports subsequently requested by the New Zealand Parole Board.

There was a steady decline in the number of home detention specialist reports in 2005/06, although this decline tapered off in the last half of the financial year. This resulted in the number of reports being 23% below expectations. The percentage of reports provided within the deadlines agreed with the Parole Board was 8% below the forecast for the year.

However, compliance improved dramatically in the last two quarters. When taken in isolation, both the third and fourth quarter returns for deadline compliance were 93% and 94% respectively. Improvements in the latter half of the year can be attributed to clarification of reporting requirements and changes to the timeframes introduced during the second quarter of the financial year.

OUTPUT 1.5 Psychological Service Information and Advice to Courts and the New Zealand Parole Board

This output entails the preparation of reports that provide the sentencing judge with information on offenders and also entails the assessment, analysis and reporting on offenders who are to appear before the New Zealand Parole Board.

Comment

The high volume of reports to the New Zealand Parole Board continued throughout the year, with the year-end result 25% above forecast levels. Activity in this output is driven by demand from the New Zealand Parole Board, within the context of its business rules and the provisions of Section 107 of the Parole Act 2002. A review undertaken of requests received during the year confirmed that requests conformed to business rules.

The number of psychological reports to courts is demand-driven and continued to exceed forecast volumes with the year-end result 51% above forecast levels.

OUTPUT 1.6 Information Services for Extended Supervision Orders

This output entails the provision of information for courts and the New Zealand Parole Board in respect of extended supervision orders. The output includes Psychological Service health assessments of offenders for whom an order may be sought, applications to courts for the orders, and applications to the New Zealand Parole Board to set conditions for the orders.

Comment

The health assessment volumes are predicated on the risk levels determined by the Psychological Services' risk measurement.

The number of health assessments completed on offenders for whom an extended supervision order was considered was 71% above the forecast levels. Child-sex offenders are all assessed by a psychologist prior to their first appearance before the Parole Board and a significantly greater number than anticipated were assessed as “sufficiently high-risk” to warrant a health assessment for extended supervision. Next year's outputs are expected to be closer to forecast volumes.

The lower than expected number of applications to the New Zealand Parole Board for special conditions was due to delays in the application process brought about by offenders defending extended supervision orders and longer than anticipated court processes.

All applications to courts and the New Zealand Parole Board were provided within the agreed deadlines and to the standards set out in the 2005/06 Statement of Intent.