A recent Court of Appeal case, may affect some offenders whom the New Zealand Parole Board did not release on parole or home detention prior to 29 August 2006.
The case is DR Reid, SL Bindon and SL Staples v New Zealand Parole Board CA247/05, CA248/05, CA249/05 29 August 2006. A copy of the Court of Appeal's judgment follows.
In summary the Court ruled that the Board may not take considerations of "general deterrence" into account, when determining release on parole or home detention.
The Board must therefore consider whether an offender poses an undue risk to the safety of the community based on:
If an offenders last Board hearing was before 29 August 2006 and the Board did not release you on parole or home detention because of "general deterrence" considerations referred to in its written decision, you may wish to write to your nearest Board office, to ask whether you may be eligible for: