Home detention is an alternative to imprisonment for some offenders. Offenders sentenced to up to two years in prison may apply to the Board to serve their sentence at an approved address, if the sentencing Judge grants them leave to do so. This is called front-end home detention.
Offenders serving a sentence of more than two years in prison may apply to serve the remainder of their sentence on home detention when they are within five months of their parole eligibility date. If home detention is granted, they will not be released on home detention until they are within three months of their parole eligibility date. This is called back-end home detention.
Offenders serving sentences on home detention are fitted with an electronic anklet which is monitored to ensure they do not leave their approved address without prior approval.
As with all of its deliberations, the Board’s primary role in considering home detention applications is the safety of the community.
Electronic monitoring
New legislation to be introduced in July enables the Board to impose electronic monitoring as a condition of release for offenders.
As with home detention, this will involve offenders wearing an electronic anklet to enable their movements to be monitored to ensure, for instance, that they are adhering to conditions such as a curfew which may be imposed.