Police and Corrections’ joint efforts to lift understanding of electronically-monitored bail (bail) among remand prison/unit staff and prisoners illustrates well what can be achieved when justice sector agencies work together.
Police Bail Manager Lindsay Talbot and Prison Services Manager Harry Hawthorn confirm that applications have almost doubled in the past three months thanks to a nationwide information campaign delivered by Police to prison remand units.
“Fifty-eight of the 135 EM bail applications granted last year were made in the three months following Bail Assessor (non-sworn police staff member) Sandra Kawau’s talk with Wanganui remand prisoners last August,” Lindsay says.
“The visit took place after Sandra and Wanganui remand unit staff looked at how best, both parties could ensure that the prisoners were well informed about the new option.
“It was a good solution and one that saw Harry encouraging prison remand units nationwide to invite assessors to visit their remand wings.”
So what is bail, what makes it different to home detention and how does an offender qualify?
Essentially, EM bail enables a prisoner to reside at home wearing an electronic monitoring anklet bracelet that shows that he or she is on the property they are confined to.
Unlike the court-imposed Home Detention sentence, the emphasis of bail is on containment rather than rehabilitation or reintegration. Another difference is, bail is managed by Police, where as home detention is managed by Corrections.
When considering bail applications the court weighs up if there is a real and significant risk of:
• the defendant absconding or failing to attend court as per the bail bond.
• the defendant interfering with evidence or intimidating witnesses.
• the defendant re-offending.
• and if that risk can be adequately managed by the restraint of an electronic boundary.
“The offence committed is not the main issue,” Lindsay says. “It’s whether the defendant may pose a risk to community safety and the integrity of the court process if they were to reside at home that police assessment and the court’s decision.
“A remand prisoner may be granted EM bail if, after assessing the real and risks associated with their residing community, the judge determines remand prisoner’s risk on bail satisfactorily mitigated by monitoring her whereabouts.
“If granted permission to reside the electronic monitoring ankle bracelet show that the offender is on the they are confined to.”
Of the 132 remand prisoners EM bail last year, 65 had appeared and had their charges dealt with, remained on EM bail.Lindsay says it’s pleasing that Zealand defendants on bail breached their bail conditions.
“Our results are better than experienced overseas,” he says.
If a prisoner is granted permission to reside at home, the electronic monitoring anklet bracelet will show that he or she is on the property they are confined to.
EM bail assessors interview a defendant’s family to assess the suitability of their home (its occupants and address) for EM bail, gather information that will help a judge decide whether a defendant is a good candidate for EM bail, and if granted, oversee the offender’s progress and compliance.
Some offenders granted EM bail are granted permission by the court to travel to and from their workplace.
Got a story for Corrections News or want to request the print edition?
Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365.
ISSN 1178-8453