Queensland Corrective Services Probation and Parole. Probation and parole

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1 Probation and Parole Probation and parole December 2007

2 Queensland Corrective Services Probation and Parole was introduced in August 2006 and focuses on the tough supervision and surveillance of offenders, creating strong links with the courts and the judiciary, and delivering a suite of major rehabilitation and intervention programs. The role of Probation and Parole is to: assist courts and Parole Boards to assess whether offenders are suitable for community-based orders enforce the conditions of court and Parole Board orders protect the community by assisting offenders to successfully complete their orders Parole and other orders As part of changes introduced under the Corrective Services Act 2006, parole is the only form of early release available to all prisoners. Under the new legislation, prisoners serve the entire sentence handed down by a court, either in custody or on parole in the community. Prisoners sentenced to three years or less imprisonment (except sex offenders and serious violent offenders) are given a parole release date by the sentencing court. Prisoners who have been convicted of sex offences or serious violent offences or who are sentenced to more than three years in jail must apply to a Parole Board for release to parole. Prisoners on parole remain under the supervision of Queensland Corrective Services until the end of their sentence. Parolees are subject to certain conditions; for example, they must report regularly to their Probation and Parole Office, attend rehabilitation programs, undergo drug testing and abstain from alcohol. Specific conditions relating to employment, curfew or a place of residence may also be applied. Offenders serving their sentences in the community can be placed on: probation intensive correction orders prison/probation orders community service orders intensive drug rehabilitation order Offenders on such orders are subject to supervision by a Probation and Parole Officer, and may also be required to attend rehabilitation programs or counselling, and perform community service. Offenders on an intervention order who fail to comply can be returned to court for contravention.

3 Regional structure Probation and Parole is structured into eight regions with a regional manager responsible for managing the District Office in which they are based. Probation and parole services are delivered through 34 district offices and over 100 reporting centres. Reporting centres enable offenders to be supervised by Probation and Parole officers in the community in which they live.

4 Probation and Parole staff Under Probation and Parole, staff are divided into four distinct groups professional staff, intelligence positions, programs staff and support staff. The previous Community Corrections model merged assessment, case management, compliance and intervention functions into the role of one Community Corrections Officer (CCO). This resulted in conflicting functions for CCOs. Roles for Probation and Parole Officers are now specialised to reduce the complexity of an officer s responsibilities, and improve efficiency, transparency and accountability. Assessment officers Specialist assessment staff conduct assessments and establish a management plan for each offender based on their reoffending risk and individual needs. These plans may include a range of actions and conditions including program referral, individual counselling with external providers, compliance with drug testing regimes or employment preparation and assistance. Case management officers Case management officers are experienced officers who focus on working with high risk offenders to develop the skills required to meet the conditions of their order and to prevent re-offending. Case management officers work closely with corrective services intelligence officers, local police and community organisations and agencies. Reporting officers Reporting officers are responsible for the ongoing monitoring and supervision of low to medium risk offenders. They work closely with community agencies and are responsible for implementing the offender s management plan and ensuring offenders comply with their orders. Compliance and surveillance officers Compliance officers are responsible for the preparation of court briefs and associated documents following the contravention of court orders. They ensure contraventions of orders are brought before the court quickly and efficiently, and that warrants are issued for those offenders who abscond from supervision. This role also involves supervising offenders on community service orders. Surveillance officers are responsible for ensuring offenders are complying with the terms of their orders. They are involved in activities such as breath and urinalysis testing, ensuring high risk offenders adhere to curfews and verifying offenders personal details.

5 Intelligence staff Intelligence staff compliment Probation and Parole s increased surveillance capacity. Their role is to accurately inform management about higher risk offenders who are being supervised in the community. Intelligence advisors develop, coordinate and supervise intelligence plans, and provide QCS Intelligence and Investigations Division with information to help reduce risk to the community. These intelligence plans are analysed and monitored by intelligence analysts who are located in key Probation and Parole offices across the State. Support staff The administrative, administration and business system functions of each Probation and Parole Office are carried out by a range of support staff. Court Services A new Judicial Liaison Unit will provide consistent and standardised information to courts, regional managers and district managers. Programs staff Intervention programs are delivered to offenders on court-orders across the State by specialist program facilitators. Programs staff work in collaboration with Probation and Parole managers and operational staff to address the needs of offenders who are eligible for intervention to reduce the risk of reoffending.

6 Community service As part of their court orders, offenders may be sentenced to undertake community service under the supervision of Probation and Parole. Community service projects are operated by not-for-profit community organisations. They include environmental groups, schools, ambulance services, charities, mealson-wheels, sporting clubs, local councils and many other organisations. Voluntary supervisors oversee the offenders working on the projects. Intervention programs Offenders on probation and parole orders have access to a range of programs and interventions aimed at reducing their risk of re-offending. These programs assist offenders to confront their criminal behaviour, and develop prosocial skills and techniques to control their behaviour and avoid situations that may lead to further offending. Programs are directed to address identified criminogenic and non-criminogenic needs. A number of maintenance programs are also offered to offenders which allow them to maintain their learning, monitor and update their progress in managing their addictive behaviours and prevent relapse. Programs include: The Turning Point: Preparatory Program, which helps offenders prepare to change their offending behaviour. The program helps offenders to weigh up the pros and cons of changing their behaviour, and to help them to become more confident about their ability to make positive changes in their lives the Getting SMART: Moderate intensity substance abuse program that teaches offenders to use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles, theories, tools and techniques to abstain from any type of addictive behaviour the Ending Family Violence program that tackles violence within Indigenous families and aims to develop culturally-appropriate solutions to protect adults and children from the effects of domestic violence the Ending Offending program that is designed to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders in a culturally appropriate manner. The overall aim of this program is to modify the drinking and offending behaviour of indigenous offenders in the correctional system a number of sex offending programs that target differing levels of criminogenic need.

7 Lower Gulf and Torres Strait As part of Probation and Parole, Gulf and Torres Strait Island communities are benefiting from tougher surveillance of offenders and rehabilitation programs. A trial of the new probation and parole model was introduced in Doomadgee, Mornington Island, Normanton and Thursday Island in June For the first time permanent Probation and Parole offices are being established in the lower Gulf and Torres Strait to provide a higher level of supervision and case management of offenders under community-based orders. The Probation and Parole model for the lower Gulf and Torres Strait region aims to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous people in Queensland s corrective services system. The improved supervision and access to rehabilitation programs is designed to provide a real sentencing alternative for judges and magistrates. Probation and Parole district offices Probation and Parole district offices are located at: Beenleigh Logan City Brisbane Central Mackay Brisbane North Mareeba Brisbane South Maroochydore Bundaberg Mt Gravatt Burleigh Heads Mt Isa Caboolture Noosa Heads Cairns Pine Rivers Cleveland Redcliffe Emerald Rockhampton Gladstone Roma Gympie Southport Hervey Bay Thuringowa Inala Thursday Island Innisfail Toowoomba Ipswich Townsville Kingaroy Wynnum For contact details, contact Queensland Corrective Services on or visit our website at

8 GPO Box 1054 Brisbane, Qld 4001 For further publications on Queensland Corrective Services, visit our website at