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Ronald Joseph KRYNEN                           

Hearing:
17 March 2011
at (withheld) Prison via video conference link to the New Zealand Parole Board Office in Wellington

Members of the Board:
The Hon. M Frater
Judge DJ Carruthers
Mr J Skipworth
Mr R Lewis
Mr J Thomson

Observer:
Mr A Hackney

In Attendance:
(withheld)

DECISION OF THE BOARD

Ronald Joseph Krynen, aged 34, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1996.

We are seeing him again today for release on parole to be considered. We are mindful of the attitude of the family members of his victim.  We have re read letters that they sent to us on previous occasions.  They will of course remain extremely concerned about any release proposal made by him in view of the crime that was committed and the grievous loss they have suffered.  They will also be concerned about his risk for the future.

His risk for the future is of course the primary focus of our work.  We are not allowed by law to release anyone unless we are satisfied they are no longer an undue risk to the safety of the community.

The latest psychological report we have about Mr Krynen assesses his risk as being low/moderate.  He has done well recently.  He has completed the Violence Prevention Unit Programme and, over the last few weeks, has been at the (withheld)  on temporary release being tested and assessed for that very intensive programme.

Today we have the advantage (withheld) being present as well.  (withheld) speaks very highly of Mr Krynen and of the progress he has made. 

A particular concern for us all about Mr Krynen has been his tendency to isolate himself, to brood on issues and then to build up both tensions and attitudes towards things which are out of proportion to their importance.

He has battled that successfully.  (withheld) spoke about that.  He is now speaking out regularly.  When he has views he expressed them and he himself says it has become easier for him to speak out.  This is an ongoing task for him but he is clearly doing well at it.

(withheld) particularly spoke about the way in which he is emerging as a leader. (withheld) referred to the problems in (withheld)  of the earthquake and the unobtrusive way members of (withheld) were conducting supervised and organised clean-up arrangements and (withheld) said Mr Krynen took a lead in all of that.

That is all good to hear.  His initial assessments have been excellent.  We think it is time for him now to be released to the (withheld) for a further period which is clearly a further test.  He will be very closely supervised there.

Another aspect was the way which he wanted in the past to communicate with the family members of his victim.  He wrote a letter.  He thinks it never reached them.  He would like to write again and of course he understands that they may not wish to hear from him but he would like to conduct the exercise.  We have invited him to send such correspondence to us and we will forward it on if the victim’s family are interested in receiving it.

We have decided for the above reasons that it is the appropriate time now for him to be released to the (withheld).  He will be released on [Withheld] April 2011.  The delay in release is so that the usual notifications can take place.

He will be released on both standard and special conditions.  Standard conditions will of course continue for the whole of his lifetime.  Special conditions will continue for five years from release.  Special conditions will be detailed at the end of this decision.

Release accordingly.

We have also decided that we will see him again for a monitoring and progress report in five months’ time, to coincide with the Extended Board that will be in August of this year.  We expect the usual reports at that time.  In our view there are special circumstances relating to him, to his index offending and his situation which justify that course.

Special conditions are as follows:

1. To reside at (withheld), and not move from that address without the written approval of the Probation Officer.
2. On successful completion of the (withheld), to reside at an address approved in writing by the Probation Officer and not to move from that address without the prior written approval of your Probation Officer.
3. To attend for a psychological assessment.  To attend and complete any treatment/counselling as recommended by the psychological assessment to the satisfaction of your Probation Officer and treatment provider.
4. To notify your Probation Officer prior to starting, terminating or changing your position or place of employment.
5. To undertake and complete the reintegration programme, administered by the (withheld) and abide by the rules of the residential programme to the satisfaction of the programme provider and Probation Officer.
6. Not to have contact or otherwise associate with the victim(s) of your offending, directly or indirectly, unless you have the prior written consent of your Probation Officer.
7. To attend for a monitoring hearing at a time and place to be communicated to you by the New Zealand Parole Board.

(signed)
Judge DJ Carruthers
Panel Convenor



Review

•    You may apply for a review of the Board’s decision under section 67(1).  The only grounds under which you may make an application for review are that the Board, in making its decision:

a)    Failed to comply with procedures in the Parole Act 2002; or
b)    Made an error of law; or
c)    Failed to comply with Board policy resulting in unfairness to the offender; or
d)    Based its decision on erroneous or irrelevant information that was material to the decision reached; or
e)    Acted without jurisdiction.

•    To apply for a review you must write to the Board within 28 days of its decision stating which of the above ground(s) you consider to be relevant in your case and giving reasons why you believe that ground(s) applies.
 
•    Reviews are considered on the papers only.  There is no hearing in respect of your Review Application.