How to Approve an Absence

Step

Action

1

Receive request for absence from offender, including required information.

Reference: This chapter, the topic General Requirements for Approved Absences, for details of the required information.

2

If the request for an absence is made on humanitarian grounds, determine whether the criteria for humanitarian absences are met. If a senior community work supervisor, this should be done in consultation with a probation officer or the service manager.

If the request for an absence is made (on other than humanitarian grounds) by an offender who is also subject to supervision or intensive supervision, determine whether the request meets the criteria for employment/training, rehabilitation, or restorative justice.

3

Determine whether the request is in line with the guiding principles for approving absences.

4

Determine whether the request requires service manager approval. Service manager approval is required for all absences on humanitarian grounds.

5

Determine whether the service manager approves.

6

Approve the absence and fill out the ‘Direction Notice for Approved Absences’.

7

Issue the offender with the Direction Notice for Approved Absences.

8

Remind the offender that they must carry their CD order and Direction Notice for Approved Absences while on the absence.

9

Record the following points in IOMS casenotes:

• the request for an approved absence
• whether the request was approved or denied
• reasons for the decision
• if approved, how the approved absence will be monitored or confirmed
• the date, time, location and purpose of the approved absence, and
• confirmation from EM records that the offender was absent only at the approved times.

10

Keep a copy of the completed Direction Notice for Approved Absences on the offender’s file.