Corrections has implemented a child sex offender inter-agency information sharing agreement with Child Youth and Family, the Ministry of Social Development, Housing New Zealand Corporation and the New Zealand Police.
Acting General Manager Corporate Management Chris Thornborough says the agreement is the first of its kind in New Zealand, and sets out the process for sharing information about child sex offenders between Corrections and government agencies party to the agreement.
“The release of a child sex offender into the community is often met with concern.
This agreement is an important step in assuring communities that we are working together to manage them as well as possible,” says Chris.
“This agreement allows a whole of government approach to manage the risk associated with the release of a child sex offender, and ensures they are provided with an appropriate level of support to reduce the chances of them re-offending,” he says.
Chris says information regarding an offender can only be disclosed to an agency if it relates to that agency’s lawful activity.
“As the functions of each agency are different, the nature of information that is disclosed to each agency is different.”
Information about an offender can be disclosed between the parties for one or more of the following purposes:
The agreement follows an inter-agency pilot established in Dunedin in 2003 that aimed to develop a best practice model for inter-agency cooperation for managing child sex offenders in the community.
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ISSN 1178-8453