After establishment in July 2002, the New Zealand Parole Board’s second year of operation again saw a significant increase in workload.
The number of hearings conducted increased by about 25 percent on the previous year, to around 9026.
As Indicated in last year’s annual report, steps have been taken to increase the number of both judicial and non-judicial members on the Board in response to the workload.
The Parole (Extended Supervision) and Sentencing Bill progressed through Parliament during the year, passing into law in early July 2004. This legislation requires sentencing courts to play a greater role in determining the suitability of offenders for home detention. These changes may have an impact on the number of home detention hearings conducted by the Board.
The amendments also create new duties for the Board. The Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections will now be able to apply for Extended Supervision Orders in respect of some high-risk sex offenders. The Board can then apply special conditions for these offenders where an order has been made to the Board.
The Board will also have the power to impose electronic monitoring as a condition of release for offenders.
The year has seen the Board feature prominently in the media, and this seems likely to continue amid calls for more 'transparency' in its operations.
In response to this, it should be noted that all Board decisions have been, and are, available on request, subject to privacy issues being taken into account.
The Board has also set up a website - www.paroleboard.govt.nz - which will make the Board’s processes and decisions more readily accessible.
Lastly, I wish to thank all Board members and administration staff for their considerable efforts over the past year. This appreciation extends to the Department of Corrections’ staff for their support and assistance, without which the Board could not operate satisfactorily.
Hon. Anthony Ellis QC
Chairperson
New Zealand Parole Board