Corey ELLIMAN - 14/12/2018

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Corey ELLIMAN

Hearing: 14 December 2018

at Otago Corrections Facility via AVL from New Zealand Parole Board, Wellington

Members of the Board:

  • Ms M Coleman – Panel Convenor
  • Judge N MacLean
  • Mr D Hauraki

Support People:

  • [withheld]
  • [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

  1. Corey Elliman, who is 27, appeared before the Board today for further consideration of parole on a four-year 10-month sentence for robbery by assault.  Mr Elliman was a party to that offence.
  2. Mr Elliman’s statutory release date is 28 March 2021.
  3. Mr Elliman has served four previous short prison terms.  Each of those prison terms was for a breach of a community-based sentence.
  4. Mr Elliman was last before the Board in December 2017.  That Board expressed surprise that Mr Elliman was not scheduled for a Drug Treatment Programme (DTP) given that he had been a cannabis user from the age of 12 and has history of non-compliance when a regular drug user.
  5. Mr Elliman had completed the Short Rehabilitation Programme (SRP) at the date of his last hearing as well as an Alcohol and Other Drug brief intervention programme.  He had completed a problem gambling programme and also a parenting programme.  He had been residing in self-care for a short period where he was working on the external grounds party.
  6. The DTP was added to Mr Elliman’s sentence plan after the last Board hearing.  He told the Board today that he was not keen initially on undertaking that programme but is now very pleased that he has done so.  He had been working on the dairy farm up until the time that he started on the programme.
  7. Mr Elliman has also had a period of time back in self-care following the first phase of the DTP.  At that time he also was successful in gaining a Release to Work position at [withheld].
  8. One of the issues discussed today was a reference in the parole assessment report to him being unmotivated in that role.  He said that perception arose in part due to him being quite a reserved person but also due to the fact that he was not having a lot of contact with his [withheld] whom he met for the first time in August 2018.  The Principal Corrections Officer confirmed the unfavourable impression had been ironed out and in fact he is seen as a hard worker and a valuable member of the [withheld] workforce.
  9. Mr Elliman was supported at the hearing today by [withheld].  [withheld].  Mr Elliman was also supported at the hearing by [withheld].
  10. Given that Mr Elliman has two convictions for possession of offensive weapons and that a gun was used in the index offence, albeit not by Mr Elliman, one of the concerns of the Board was whether there were guns at [withheld] house.  [withheld] said that he owned an air pistol but would have no objection to it being housed elsewhere for the period in which Mr Elliman is residing with him.
  11. Mr Elliman has a strong support network, including [withheld].  Mr Elliman has spoken to them about his safety plan and said that he has a copy available to provide to his probation officer.
  12. Mr Elliman spoke really well to the Board today.  It is clear that he has thought a great deal about his lifestyle prior to coming to prison.  He has also thought a great deal about the impact that this offending has had on his victims.  In light of that work and with the support that Mr Elliman will have on the release, the Board has reached a decision he would not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community were he to be released on parole.
  13. That decision takes into account the special conditions the Board intends to impose that will assist in managing his risk.
  14. One of those conditions is that he is not to possess or consume alcohol or drugs.  Mr Elliman was advised at today's hearing that his compliance with that condition can be monitored once he is in the community.
  15. Another condition is that he is not to reside at an address at which there are guns of any description.  This means that [withheld] will need to find a new home, at least temporarily, for his air rifle.
  16. Mr Elliman will be released on [withheld] January 2019.  He will be subject to standard and special conditions.  These conditions will remain in place for 18 months past his release date.  The exception to this is the curfew which will remain in place for the first two months only.
  17. The special conditions are as follows:

    (1) Not to possess, use, or consume alcohol, controlled drugs or psychoactive substances except controlled drugs prescribed for you by a health professional.

    (2) To attend an alcohol and drug assessment, and attend, participate in and complete any treatment or counselling directed by a probation officer.

    (3) To attend, participate in and adhere to the rules of the Short Rehabilitation Programme Maintenance Group as directed by a probation officer.

    (4) To attend, participate in and complete any other treatment, programme or counselling as directed by a probation officer.

    (5) To reside at [withheld] or any other address approved in writing by a probation officer, and not move from that address unless you have the prior written approval of a probation officer.

    (6) For the first two months following your release, to be at your approved address between the hours of 10pm and 5am daily unless you have the prior written approval of a probation officer.

    (7) Not to reside at any address at which guns of any description are kept.

    (8) Not to have contact or otherwise associate with any victim of your offending, directly or indirectly, unless you have the prior written approval of a probation officer.

    (9) Not to communicate or associate with your co-offenders directly or indirectly, unless you have the prior written approval of a probation officer.

    (10) To attend a reintegration meeting within 2 months of your release as directed by a probation officer.

Ms M Coleman
Panel Convenor