Introduction
This topic outlines information about, and requirements for, confirming or monitoring approved absences on CD.
Absence must be confirmed
All approved absences for offenders on CD must be able to be reliably confirmed or monitored in some way.
This may either be:
- during the absence, or
- in retrospect.
Examples: confirming absences
The following list comprises examples of how an offender’s location can be confirmed during an approved absence. By:
- use of an approved sponsor (see below)
- telephoning the offender at the location of the absence (landline not mobile phone). The offender is required to answer the direct line and the call should not be transferred to allow the offender to answer, or
- the probation officer or senior community work supervisor visiting the location of absence.
The following list comprises examples of how an offender’s location can be confirmed in retrospect of an approved absence. By providing:
- a wage slip or time clock card, or
- a letter from a doctor, counsellor, programme provider, etc.
Note: These lists are not exhaustive, and staff will need to exercise their professional judgement in consultation with the service manager to determine the appropriate means of confirming an absence.
Approved sponsor: definition
An approved sponsor is someone the CPPS staff member is confident:
- will exert a positive influence on the offender
- will not collude with any non-compliance by the offender
- if possible, will be able to be contacted during the absence, and
- an independent professional that can verify the absence e.g. doctor or hospital staff.
In general, an approved sponsor should not be:
- someone the offender is living with (except for a responsible parent or caregiver), as this could lead to conflict in the home, or
- anyone who is easily influenced by the offender.
