Elise Archer,Attorney-General and Minister for Corrections
Our Government is committed to keeping Tasmanian communities safe.
We are currently seeking public comment on a Bill that will create certainty around electronic monitoring of prisoners who are granted parole.
The Corrections Amendment (Electronic Monitoring) Bill 2020 will amend the Corrections Act 1997 to specifically provide the Parole Board with legislative authority to impose electronic monitoring as a condition of parole, as is the case in all other Australian jurisdictions except the Australian Capital Territory.
In Tasmania, no specific provisions for electronic monitoring of parolees are currently contained within the Act, and courts do have powers to impose a condition requiring electronic monitoring when making a home detention order or family violence order.
The Bill will ensure that the location of a parolee will be able to be tracked via GPS through an electronic device.
The devices provide a means to monitor, in real-time, whether the offender is complying with relevant conditions of their parole order, such as curfews or prohibitions on entry into proscribed areas or residences.
Monitoring is performed by the Department of Justice Monitoring and Compliance Unit in Hobart.
The Bill can be downloaded and public submissions can be made on the Department of Justice website: https://www.justice.tas.gov.au/community-consultation/consultations/corrections-amendment-electronic-monitoring-bill-2020
The consultation period closes on 29 July 2020.
