About Pre-parole Liaison

Pre-parole liaison process

The following diagram provides an overview of the pre-parole liaison process.

Initiating pre-parole liaison

CPPS service managers are responsible for deciding whether pre-parole liaison will be initiated for an offender.

The service manager can decide to initiate pre-parole liaison by:

• using the pre-parole liaison checklist in the pre-release planning worksheet
• when significant concerns about the possible release of an offender are identified by a person working with them are brought to the attention of CPPS.

When is pre-parole liaison initiated? 

Pre-parole liaison may be initiated up to six months before an offender's parole eligibility date.

Once initiated, pre-parole liaison will continue until the offender is granted release from prison by the New Zealand Parole Board (NZPB).

Who is involved in pre-parole liaison?  

The key people involved in pre-parole liaison are the offender, the probation officer and the sentence planner.

All people working with an offender should be involved in pre-parole liaison, including (but not limited to):

• reintegration caseworker
• psychologist
• other PS staff (e.g. whanau liaison workers, Work and Income, rehabilitation workers, social workers, unit managers, and case officers, Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) staff)
• external agencies and workers (e.g. community mental health, Housing New Zealand, police, supported accommodation, and CYF),
• programme/course facilitators,
• special treatment unit staff/facilitators
• drug dog handlers
• prison chaplain
• health staff.

What does pre-parole liaison involve? 

Pre-parole liaison involves collaboration between parties involved with the offender about the:

• development of a robust and workable release proposal for the offender
• addressing the offender's re-integrative and rehabilitative needs
• resolution of issues related to the management of the offender should they be granted release.

How liaison is conducted? 

Pre-parole liaison will be conducted by email and phone, but may involve direct contact with:

• agencies involved
• the offender's key community support people.

Use of information gathered 

The information gathered and proposals developed as part of pre-parole liaison will:

• feed directly into the offender's parole assessment report
• assist in the management of the offender's parole if the offender is granted release.

Extent of pre-parole liaison 

The extent of pre-parole liaison and the amount of time necessary to carry it out will depend on the complexity and level of needs of the offender.

For example an offender with complex needs will require more liaison to develop robust release proposals than an offender who does not have complex needs. 

For some offender’s liaison may only involve monitoring the offenders progress and stability of the release proposals.