Service Performance: Output Class 2- Community-based Sentences and Orders

This output class provides for the management and delivery of community-based sentences and orders through sentence management and sentence compliance services. Included as part of these services are the sentences of supervision and community work and orders such as home detention, parole, post-release conditions and extended supervision for serious child-sex offenders.

The services provided meet the terms of judicial decisions on sentences in each case, and also provide opportunities for offenders to acknowledge their responsibilities and address offending behaviour.

It provides for an estimated 42,606 new sentences and orders.

OUTPUT CLASS STATEMENT: COMMUNITY-BASED SENTENCES AND ORDERS
For the Year Ended 30 June 2005

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

OUTPUT 2.1 Supervision

This output ensures that offenders sentenced to supervision report regularly to their Probation Officer and, if ordered by the court, fulfil special conditions that will address the reasons for their offending. Supervision may include in-depth, focused interventions such as rehabilitation or reintegration programmes or counselling.

Comment

The number of supervision sentences is a direct result of sentencing decisions by the judiciary. The number of sentences in 2005/06 was 11% above the forecast of 5,000. This forecast was based on actual numbers of 5,029 in 2002/03 and 4,928 in 2003/04.

The percentage of offenders who complied with special conditions imposed as part of their sentence continued to exceed forecast. Compliance is influenced by a wide range of variables that are not easily quantifiable and it is difficult to attribute the impact of any one particular factor to the overall positive result. These factors include:

individual offender characteristics, for example, age, offending history, current personal circumstances, motivation to address offending

the number and complexity of special conditions to be complied with (e.g. attendance at programmes, non-association orders, residential/employment restrictions)

continued improvement in the skills and experience of Probation Officers, together with their commitment and efforts to ensure offenders focus on sentence compliance.

OUTPUT 2.2 Community Work

This output ensures that an offender sentenced to community work completes the sentenced number of hours work within the community. It provides for reparation to the community. The type of community work that can be performed is specified in the Sentencing Act 2002.

Comment

The results for the year were in line with expectations.

OUTPUT 2.3 Home Detention Orders

This output entails administering home detention orders imposed by the New Zealand Parole Board. Under the conditions of these orders, the offender resides at home under strict conditions and with strict monitoring of those conditions. Offenders may be required to undertake a rehabilitative programme or reintegration service or counselling that addresses their offending.

Comment

There was a steady decline in the numbers of offenders directed to complete a home detention order in 2005/06, although this decline tapered off in the second half of the year. Volumes are determined by the decisions of the courts and the New Zealand Parole Board.

The percentage of offenders who comply with special conditions exceeded expectations throughout the year at 13% above the standard, indicating greater effort toward ensuring offender compliance.

OUTPUT 2.4 Parole Orders

This output entails administering an order imposed by the New Zealand Parole Board. It includes the Probation Officer meeting regularly and working closely with an offender subject to a parole order, and ensuring that special conditions imposed by the Board are fulfilled.

Comment

The number of prisoners directed to complete a parole order, which was 13% above forecast, is determined by decisions made by the New Zealand Parole Board.

The percentage of offenders who comply with the special conditions imposed as part of their order continued to exceed forecast. This result cannot be attributed to any one factor as compliance is influenced by a wide range of variables, the impacts of which are difficult to quantify. These factors include:

• individual offender characteristics, for example, age, offending history, current personal circumstances, motivation to address offending
• the number and complexity of special conditions to be complied with (e.g. attendance at programmes, non-association orders, residential/employment restrictions)
• continued improvement in the skills and experience of Probation Officers, together with their commitment and efforts to ensure offenders focus on sentence compliance.

OUTPUT 2.5 Orders for Post-Release Conditions

This output entails administering post-release conditions for prisoners with short sentences, as imposed by the judiciary at the time of sentencing and administered by a Probation Officer.

Comment

Both the number of prisoners released on post-release conditions imposed by the court and the percentage of offenders who complied with special conditions imposed as part of their order were in line with expectations.

OUTPUT 2.6 Extended Supervision Orders

This output entails the administering of an order imposed by the court, with conditions set by the New Zealand Parole Board to actively manage the long-term risks posed by high-risk child-sex offenders in the community. The order can apply for up to 10 years following a finite term of imprisonment and is administered by a Probation Officer.

Comment

The number of offenders commencing orders and being managed was below forecast primarily due to the high number of offenders defending the order in court. The reduced number of offenders currently being managed was also due to the number of extended supervision orders being suspended when offenders were re-imprisoned. This includes imprisonment on remand and on sentence for further criminal charges or breach of extended supervision.