The Andrews Labor Government is strengthening Victoria’s parole system to make our communities safer, with three more of the 23 recommendations from the Callinan Review coming into effect today.
Minister for Corrections, Wade Noonan, said there was now only one outstanding recommendation to be introduced as part of the $84.1million wave of reforms. The three new reforms are:
- No violent or sexual offender can be granted parole who has not undertaken the required prison programs and behaved satisfactorily for at least the second half of that person’s time in prison.
- The introduction of a new dedicated stream of more experienced officers to exclusively manage parolees.
- That the Adult Parole Board now treat the expiration of a non-parole period as a target date only and take into account all relevant material before parole is granted.
The final recommendation of the Review of the Parole System in Victoria – for a new and comprehensive electronic database and case management system at the Adult Parole Board – is already partially in place, with a secure electronic record system replacing the old paper filing system.
The second phase of this recommendation, a comprehensive electronic case management system, is expected to be operational in December 2015.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Corrections, Wade Noonan
“We’re strengthening the parole system to keep our communities safe.”
“The reforms mean that Victoria now has the toughest parole system in Australia.”
“Much has been done to reform parole in Victoria, but the Andrews Labor Government will stay vigilant to make sure the system works.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020