Most of the responsibilities for Electronically Monitored (EM) Bail will be transferred from the New Zealand Police to the Department of Corrections to better use shared resources to benefit both organisations.
“Both Police and Corrections are in the business of keeping New Zealanders safe, be it preventing crime or safely managing offenders and defendants in our communities, and today's announcement signals our commitment to achieving this,” says Corrections Chief Executive Ray Smith.
“Sharing the management of EM Bail brings together our collective strengths and means that we can manage the volumes of offenders and defendants within our existing funding.”
Police Commissioner Peter Marshall says the changes will create greater efficiencies that will allow the sector to continue to meet growing demand and deliver a safe and secure EM bail service
“Police currently assess around 1600 bailees for electronic monitoring conditions and Corrections assess around 17,000 offenders for sentences and orders involving electronic monitoring every year. There are a number of benefits in transferring most of the delivery of EM Bail from Police to Corrections."
From February next year, there will be one justice sector agency managing electronic monitoring, creating consistency in the application of electronic monitoring from contract management to process improvement and service delivery.
The change will affect 36 civilian Police staff, whose roles will be disestablished, with a consequent increase in the number of Probation Officers who will take over some of this work. While actual numbers are yet to be determined, Corrections says applications from affected Police staff will be welcome.
Mr Marshall says both Police and Corrections remain conscious of the impact the changes will have on affected staff, and says both agencies are working hard to provide certainty for those staff as soon as possible.
“We appreciate that this is a difficult period for those staff affected as we make this transition, which is why we are working closely with Corrections to resolve these issues as quickly as we can. We will continue to support those staff and keep them informed of progress as we work through this process, and will advise them of the outcome as soon as it is known.”
The changes will also now see Corrections staff complete the assessment of suitability of the applicant, their proposed address and the viability for electronic monitoring. Corrections has a wealth of experience in this area from management of Home Detention and Community Detention.
Police will continue to respond to any non-compliance with any of the bail conditions imposed by the court and arrest and return the bailee to court if necessary.
Corrections will also have the ability to consider the implementation of GPS technology for EM Bail in the future, given its recent successful application to high risk offenders.
It has been agreed that the transition will commence from 1 October 2013 and be completed by 1 February 2014.
Mr Marshall notes; "During the transition, existing Police systems will operate in parallel with the new Corrections service. This is to ensure each EM bailee is transitioned safely, that new systems are thoroughly tested and that the Court continues to receive the standard of service it expects."
Subject to changes to bail outlined in the Bail Amendment Bill, Police will have responsibility to deliver the full range of EM Bail services up until 1 February 2014.
ENDS
Corrections Media (Communications Services Desk):
Contact: Ph (04) 460 3365; Email: commdesk@corrections.govt.nz
Police Media:
Contact: Ross Henderson; Ph (04) 470 7316 or 027 703 7329.