Daniel WALLIS 27/03/2025

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Daniel WALLIS

Hearing: 27 March 2025

at Rolleston Prison via MS Teams

Members of the Board:

Ms K Snook – Panel Convenor

Mr C King

Mr A Hackney

Dr B Leslie

Counsel: Ms K Basire

In Attendance: [withheld] - Case Manager

Support Persons: [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

  1. Daniel Wallis, 27, appeared for the further consideration of parole in relation to a sentence of three years three months’ imprisonment for the manslaughter of his baby daughter.  This is his only conviction.
  2. Mr Wallis is on a minimum prison security classification and he has a statutory release date of 15 August 2026.
  3. Mr Wallis saw the Board last on 10 October 2024.  That Board supported the recommendations of the psychologist which were that he finish one-to-one treatment and develop a safety plan.  He needed to internalise his safety plan and hopefully go to work outside the wire.  There should also be a reintegration meeting.
  4. [Withheld]
  5. Mr Wallis was represented today by Ms Basire.  She had filed written submissions which the Board had read.  Ms Basire focused her oral submission on the addendum parole assessment report which is dated 25 March 2025.  There were some possibly concerning comments in there about what happened at the reintegration meeting and Ms Basire took the Board through those.  They related to comments that Mr Wallis was not able to speak to his safety plan except if he read it out in full.  Ms Basire said that she had talked to Mr Wallis about his safety plan previously and thought that he had a very good understanding of it.  She said that what happened at the hui reflected Mr Wallis's [withheld].  He was told he should share his safety plan and he wanted to make sure that his employer heard it all which is why he read it out.
  6. The other comment in the addendum parole assessment report was that Mr Wallis had only given his partner a slimmed down version of the offending.  Ms Basire’s submission was that what Mr Wallis meant by that was that he had not talked to his partner in the same detail as he had with the psychologist but that his partner was fully aware of the offending.
  7. Ms Basire also referred to the way in which Mr Wallis has completed treatment with a psychologist and is now able to deal with stressful situations in prison and gave examples of that.  He understands his safety plan and has a good release proposal.  At the end of the hearing Ms Basire emphasised the other thing that Mr Wallis had learnt from the psychologist which was that he now knows it is much safer to leave a baby crying and walk away.
  8. We talked to Mr Wallis about his safety plan.  It did seem that he knows his high-risk situations.  He said that they include having children in his care, isolating himself from his support and overworking to avoid dealing with psychological stress.  He was able to refer to warning signs that his supporters need to watch out for which indicate increasing anxiety.  [Withheld]
  9. Mr Wallis has a confirmed address with [withheld].  His partner will move to live with him there.  They have been in a relationship for nearly 3 years. [Withheld].  His [withheld] was able to tell the Board today what she knows about the offending.  His [withheld] also spoke of the support that they will provide.  Mr Wallis has confirmed employment with a past employer.
  10. The officer gave a good report about Mr Wallis.  He has been working in a trusted position as a servery worker.  That does create stress as he is often pressured by others to increase their portions and he has been able to deal with that role very well.
  11. Mr Wallis confirmed that his extended family know about the offending. [Withheld]
  12. We are satisfied that if released on parole Mr Wallis will not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community.  He has completed treatment with a psychologist and does have a detailed safety plan.  He is assessed as at moderate risk of re-offending.  He was able to talk to the Board today about his high-risk situations including, in particular, being in a position where he is the sole caregiver for any child.  There will be a special condition directed at that particular risk.  He also plans to work with a psychologist in the community.
  13. Mr Wallis will be released on parole on 16 April 2025.  He will be released on the standard conditions and on the special conditions set out below.  We have added a special condition that Mr Wallis is to reside at [withheld] address.  As the condition is drafted his probation officer cannot give consent for Mr Wallis to reside at any other address at least until the monitoring hearing.  A variation would need to be sought if Mr Wallis plans any move to an alternative address between now and the monitoring hearing.
  14. We do not think that residential restrictions are needed to reduce risk in Mr Wallis' case.  We do think that the special condition in relation to care of under 14-year-olds is important.  Again that will not allow for any approval by the probation officer for Mr Wallis to have supervision of an under 14-year-old.
  15. The monitoring hearing will be in October 2025.
  16. All conditions remain in place for six months past Mr Wallis' statutory release date of 15 August 2026.
  17. The special conditions are:

(1) To reside at [withheld], [withheld] and not move from that address unless a variation application is made to, and approved by, the Parole Board.

(2) To comply with the requirements of electronic monitoring and provide access to your approved residence by a Probation Officer and/or representatives of the monitoring company for the purposes of maintaining the electronic monitoring equipment as directed by a Probation Officer.

(3) Not to enter [withheld] as defined by a Probation Officer in writing unless you have the prior written approval of a Probation Officer.

(4) To submit to electronic monitoring as directed by a Probation Officer in order to monitor your compliance with any conditions relating to your whereabouts.

(5) 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.

(6) To disclose to a Probation Officer, at the earliest opportunity, details of any intimate relationship which commences, resumes, or terminates.

(7) To obtain the written approval of a Probation Officer before starting or changing your position and/or place of employment (including voluntary and unpaid work). To notify a Probation Officer if you leave your position of employment.

(8) In October 2025, to comply with any direction to attend a monitoring hearing at a time and place to be notified to you.

(9) Not to have any children under the age of 14 left under your sole supervision and care at any time.

Ms K Snook

Panel Convenor