Extended Supervision

What is extended supervision?

Extended supervision is an order that can be imposed by the court on offenders sentenced to a determinate sentence of imprisonment for specified sexual offences against children. The order can be imposed for up to ten years and takes effect:

• after the offender's release from prison, or
• on the completion of any release conditions.

The Department of Corrections applies to the court for extended supervision orders in respect of offenders assessed as at the highest risk of reoffending sexually against children. The crown solicitor makes the application on behalf of the Department of Corrections during the final year of the offender's sentence.

The offender may already have been released but an extended supervision order cannot take effect prior to an offender's statutory release date while they are still recallable.

Monitoring order

Extended supervision is designed as a monitoring order, with the primary purposes being to ensure that the offender remains visible to the relevant agencies so that increasing risk can be identified and managed.

The order is also designed to support the successful establishment and maintenance of relapse prevention strategies. In a very small number of cases, this may require the provision of intensive support services.

Extended supervision conditions

Offenders subject to an extended supervision order are required to comply with a range of standard conditions specified in the Parole Act 2002. The court may also impose interim special conditions when granting an extended supervision order to apply until the NZPB sets final special conditions, a process which takes three to four months.

New standard conditions set out in the Criminal Justice Reform Act prohibit contact with under 16 year olds and victims without the prior approval of the probation officer.

Reporting requirements

An offender on extended supervision is required to report regularly to a probation officer and is subject to home visits and employment approval.

The probation officer also maintains contact with other key people (both representatives of relevant agencies or organisations, and the offender's support people) to:

• monitor compliance with the conditions of the order, and
• identify emerging or increasing risk at the earliest opportunity.

Breach of conditions

An offender who breaches the conditions of an extended supervision order without reasonable excuse commits an offence punishable by up to two years imprisonment.

An offender on extended supervision cannot be recalled to prison.