News Release
For Immediate Release 13 July 2012
Extended Supervision Order for Stewart Murray Wilson

“The Department of Corrections has welcomed today’s decision of the Court to impose a ten year Extended Supervision Order on Stewart Murray Wilson from the time his parole period ends,” says Maria McDonald, Assistant General Manager, Community Probation Services.
“The existence of this order means we can monitor this offender for a further ten years after his parole period ends in 2015,” says Ms McDonald.

“During the period of parole the offender is recallable if he presents any undue risk to the safety of others. For the following ten years a person subject to an ESO can be charged in court for breaching their conditions and, if convicted, may be sentenced for up to two years imprisonment.”

Special conditions, including the imposition of GPS tracking, both for the period of parole and the ESO will be decided by the Parole Board closer to the time of release.

Under general conditions an offender subject to parole and an ESO will have to report to their probation officer regularly, may be obliged to attend treatment programmes and counselling as directed, will be subject to constraints as to their residence and employment, and will be subject to restrictions on contact with their victims and with children under the age of 16.

We have assessment tools and measures for Community Probation Services (CPS) for staff to identify any likelihood of further offending and risk of harm to others. One of these tools is also specifically designed to help identify increasing risk of further child sex offending. Staff also have guidelines on what signs to look out for which might indicate potential child abuse, and are encouraged to disclose information about child abuse under the provisions of Section 15 under the Child Young Persons and their Families Act of 1989.

We work closely with Police regarding the release of offenders who are classified as highest risk, for example to determine an appropriate address the offender is proposing to reside in. This allows us to better manage the potential risk of harm the offender may pose to others, including children.

We administer High Risk High Profile (HRHP) forums with Police in order to plan the release of high risk or high profile offenders.

These forums seek to identify any potential risks these offenders may pose and put strategies in place to minimise these risks. Where child safety or wellbeing is a concern, CYF are generally involved in the planning of the release of these offenders.

We, along with Police, notify community members in certain circumstances that a child sex offender is residing there. We also inform any victims who are registered that the offender is being released from prison, in addition to any other information specified under the Victims' Rights Act 2002.

We have an Agreement for Sharing Information about Child Sex Offenders with Police, the Ministry of Social Development (CYF and WINZ), and Housing NZ. This helps in identifying and managing instances of increasing risk of sexual offending against children, as well as to promote the reintegration of child sex offenders into the community to reduce their likelihood of re-offending and risk of harm.

Support Planning Meetings (SPMs) are arranged by CPS for child sex offenders for the purposes of safety planning, and they include CYF and Police as well as any support people. CPS, CYF and Police maintain contact to ensure that key elements of the safety plan are being implemented and followed.

ENDS

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