Compliance Incentives

Introduction

This topic covers the incentives that are offered to offenders and how and why they are applied.

Legislative references

These incentives are allowed under:

• section 67 Sentencing Act 2002, Remission of Sentence of Community Work, and
• section 68 Sentencing Act 2002, Variation or Cancellation of Sentence of Community Work.

Purpose

The purpose of offering incentives is to encourage consistent attendance and compliance with the conditions of the sentence by offering a reward that holds some value to the offender.

Basic incentive

The primary incentive for offenders is that no enforcement action will be taken if weekly compliance is maintained.

Other incentives

Other incentives available to offenders who comply with the requirements of the sentence are outlined in more detail in the following pages. The available incentives are:

• 10% remission, and
• work project incentives.

Principle

In general, incentives should not be offered as encouragement to an offender who is not complying.

Good performance should receive a positive response (an incentive).

Poor performance should receive a corrective response (enforcement action).

General sentence incentives

The following incentives affect the general administration of the sentence:

• changing the offender’s regular reporting schedule to a more preferred one
• if the compliance has been consistent for the first 75% of the sentence, the offender can earn up to 10% remission of hours
• if an offender on CWC placement is considered suitable they have the opportunity to complete their sentence at a CWA.

10% remission

Do not re-assign or allude to an assigned 10% remission on any document provided to the offender.

The evaluation of whether or not an offender is entitled to a 10% remission does not occur until 75% of the sentence is completed.

Talking about the 10% remission during induction is encouraged, but it should be clearly presented as a target to be achieved through good performance, not as a right.

Work project and programme incentives

The following incentives affect the offender’s participation in work projects and programmes:

• the offender is allocated to a community work supervisor, project or agency who can provide them with new or different work skills
• the offender is allocated to a different work project
• the offender is allowed an afternoon tea break, and
• the offender receives a certificate for a successfully completed programme.

Important – use discretion

Use discretion in deciding which incentive to use. Some of the above options may not be appropriate for:

• the offender
• their relationship with their co-offenders, or
• the CWC/CWA.