Caseload

Comparable information, based on the unpublished data collected by NCAG, is only available for NSW, ACT, NT and NZ, and for NZ. Statistics are only available for operational staff and for the years 2003-04 and 2004-05.

ACT ratios will be affected by the relatively small number of detainees at any point in time as well as the stage of operation of the program. NT may also be vulnerable to annual fluctuation in staff to offender ratios given the size of the detainee population in that jurisdiction.

A comparable caseload figures for Victoria was estimated on the basis of verbal advice on current staff numbers provided by the program manager, calculated against average detainee numbers at this point of time. Detainee to total staff ratio was 2.5 and to operational staff was 2.9. The SA program manager advised SA was operating on a caseload of approximately 20 cases per HD officer. While these figures are not directly comparable to those provided for the RoGS above, they provide an indication of approximate caseload for these two jurisdictions. It was not possible to determine a caseload figure for Queensland, given that detainees are not managed by dedicated HD officers, but may be managed to community corrections officers as part of their wider caseload.

The most valid comparison would be operational staff to offender ratios between NSW and NZ where both jurisdictions have relatively similar caseloads for operational staff, at around 4 to 6 detainees per operational officer. However, NZ ratios do not take into account the role of the contracted monitoring company in electronically monitoring detainees and following up alarms.