Types of contact with offenders
The types of contact that may be had with offenders include:
- face to face
- telephone
- routinely reporting to a Community Probation Service office
- structured sessions (group and individual)
- home visits
- working with offenders alongside their Whānau and other support people, and
- joint meetings with programme facilitators and others including government and non-government agencies.
Note: All contact with offenders must be recorded in IOMS.
Other contact
Other contact may be had with:
- programme providers, facilitators, or coaches
- other support people who are involved with the offender, including family/whānau
- referral agencies
- specialist assessors
- Community Probation Service administration staff and other Probation Officers:
- if the offender transfers to another Community Probation Service office, or
- if the offender has a concurrent sentence
- other departments and non-government agencies who have a role with the offender, and
- monitoring company (for Home Detention or other electronically monitored special conditions).
Police witness protection
If an offender is or becomes part of the Police Witness Protection Scheme, information on their identity must be protected as they are managed.
Reference: Vol 4, Part II, Ch 2, Memoranda of Understanding (please refer to the related links section on this page).
Meeting with offenders
All meetings with offenders must be conducted in a location and situation that takes account of the following factors.
- Safety: The location must take into account the safety of the Probation Officer, offender, and others, such as victims. Safety issues for Probation Officers on home visits must be specifically considered and addressed (see the local area health and safety plan).
- Privacy: The location must enable confidentiality.
- Continuity: The location must enable the interview to proceed without interruption or distraction.
- Accessibility: The location must be accessible to all attendees.
- Disability: The location must accommodate any requirements that arise due to disability of any attendee.
- Victim issues: Any interview, which also involves a victim, must be located where the victim and offender can wait in separate areas if there is any delay.
- Other: The location must take into account any other particular needs of attendees.
Location - Home Detention only
For Home Detention offenders, most meetings will occur in the offender’s home. Factors such as privacy and childcare should still be considered.
Dealing with complaints
Offenders have the right to lay a complaint.
Reference: Vol 4, Part I, Ch 11, Complaints (please refer to the related links section on this page).
Awareness of responsiveness
When working with offenders, be aware and responsive to issues relating to safety, culture, age and gender.
Importantly, if at any time during contact with an offender they are considered to be at risk of suicide or self-harm, take immediate action.
Reference: Vol 4, Part I, Ch 2, Awareness (please refer to the related links section on this page).
