Intensive supervision is considered a rehabilitative sentence. It can only be imposed if the court is satisfied that the sentence would reduce the likelihood of further offending by the offender through the rehabilitation and reintegration of the offender; and that the offender’s needs require the imposition of conditions for longer than 12 months or that are not available on supervision (e.g. residential programme).
The length of an intensive supervision sentence may be between six and 24 months, and the full range of special conditions may be imposed.
Legislative references: Sections 54B and 54C Sentencing Act 2002.
Intensive supervision can be imposed jointly with:
These combinations enable the courts to impose sentences that require the offender to make reparation and/or be punished, as well as providing for them to address rehabilitative and reintegrative needs.
Intensive supervision is targeted at offenders convicted of more serious offences, with severe and/or complex rehabilitative needs and a higher risk of re-offending.
International evidence indicates that higher levels of intervention are required for offenders at higher risk of re-offending. The intensive supervision sentence has therefore been designed on the basis of extensive contact between the offender and the Department of Corrections. On average, probation officers will spend approximately 56 hours managing a sentence of intensive supervision.
Transitional note: It is anticipated that approximately one third of offenders currently (prior to October 2007) sentenced to supervision will be sentenced to intensive supervision under the new legislation.
Note: It is estimated that the average length of intensive supervision sentences will be twelve months. Although it is expected that the full range (6 to 24 months) will be applied to individual offenders. The minimum possible sentence length to meet the conditions of the sentence/order will need to be included in recommendations (as most interventions require longer than six months).
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