Published Sunday, 18 March, 2007 at 11:18 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
ELECTRONIC MONITORING OF SEX OFFENDERS TO COMMENCE IN QLD
Dangerous sex offenders who are released back in to the community by the courts can soon be ordered to wear electronic monitoring devices, Premier Peter Beattie and Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence announced today.
Mr Beattie said the technology was new for Queensland and would add an extra layer of security in the monitoring of the state’s most dangerous offenders.
“If the courts decide to release sex offenders into the community, then we want them under the tightest supervision and surveillance possible,” Mr Beattie said.
“From now on, the government will be requesting that electronic monitoring be a condition of release for all offenders subject to supervision under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003.
“This will help ensure that dangerous offenders are at home when they are supposed to be.
“This could include keeping sex offenders at home in the hours immediately before school starts, after school closes for the day, or it may be a dusk to dawn curfew.”
Mr Beattie said electronic monitoring uses radio frequency technology to confirm an offender’s whereabouts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“The transmitter device will be worn on an offender’s ankle and will be electronically linked to tamper-proof base stations in the offender’s home,” Mr Beattie said.
“It is about the size of a watch and is lightweight, waterproof and very robust.
“The device contains a fibre-optic core to ensure that if a breach occurs, or the equipment is tampered with in any way, police and corrections officers will be notified and can respond immediately.”
Mr Beattie said the technology was already being used successfully in the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, and in Australia in Victoria and Western Australia.
However he emphasised that while electronic monitoring would strengthen the surveillance of offenders, it was just one part of the solution.
“This government is well underway to implementing Australia’s toughest regime against dangerous sexual offenders,” Mr Beattie said.
“Queensland was one of the first state’s to sign up to the National Child Sex Offender Register, which gives police the ability to monitor the location of registered child sex offenders.
“We also introduced some of the toughest legislation in the country with the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, (DPSOA) to keep our worst prisoners behind bars indefinitely.
“Last year, we commenced a $15 million overhaul of the Probation and Parole system to introduce even tougher monitoring and surveillance measures.
“Electronic monitoring will add an extra layer of security by giving the courts another tool to monitor dangerous offenders who are placed on Continuing Supervision Orders.”
Ms Spence said up to five offenders were expected to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device by the end of April.
“The State Government will be making numerous DPSOA applications this year and by the end of 2007 we expect up 15 offenders may be subject to electronic monitoring,” Ms Spence said.
“In addition, if any offenders already living in the community under a DPSOA order breach their conditions, we will be asking the courts to amend their orders to include electronic monitoring.
“Over the next three years up to 100 offenders may be supervised with the help of this new technology.”
Ms Spence said electronic monitoring would be available in Brisbane and other major metropolitan areas such as Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns.
“Larger cities have the appropriate surveillance and response capabilities to ensure the technology is used as effectively as possible,” Ms Spence said.
“Offenders who live outside major metropolitan areas will still need to comply with numerous strict conditions, such as suitability assessments of their home and drug and alcohol testing, and will be subject to rigorous surveillance and supervision.”
Ms Spence said the technology would be introduced with numerous safeguards.
“If an offender removes, cuts, tampers with the equipment or moves outside the permitted range without authorisation, the radio signal is interrupted,” Ms Spence said.
“This immediately triggers an alert signal at the central monitoring centre, resulting in an immediate response by corrective services officers.
“In the first instance, corrective services officers will phone the offender’s home. If the offender answers, their identity is verified by the use of voice verification software.
“If this process reports a ‘fail’, officers will immediately be deployed to investigate.
“If an offender is found to have breached their curfew, this will trigger an investigation by a 24 hour police and corrective services criminal intelligence network.
“The offender can be returned to court and if the court determines, sent back to prison.
“Any offender who damages the electronic monitoring equipment can also be charged with Wilful Damage under the Criminal Code Act 1899 and can face up to 5 years jail.”
Ms Spence said Queensland Corrective Services could remove the electronic device if an offender’s risk was assessed as being reduced.
Ms Spence said electronic monitoring was a commitment made at the September election and the State Government was spending $4 million over four years on its implementation.
She said the contract for the equipment was awarded to Australian based company Comsat Security Pty Ltd. The company currently holds the electronic monitoring contracts for Corrective Services in Victoria and Western Australia.
Media inquiries: Premier’s office 3224 4500
Minister’s office - Sarah Martin 3239 6172 / 0408 732 491
March 18, 2007
Mr Beattie said the technology was new for Queensland and would add an extra layer of security in the monitoring of the state’s most dangerous offenders.
“If the courts decide to release sex offenders into the community, then we want them under the tightest supervision and surveillance possible,” Mr Beattie said.
“From now on, the government will be requesting that electronic monitoring be a condition of release for all offenders subject to supervision under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003.
“This will help ensure that dangerous offenders are at home when they are supposed to be.
“This could include keeping sex offenders at home in the hours immediately before school starts, after school closes for the day, or it may be a dusk to dawn curfew.”
Mr Beattie said electronic monitoring uses radio frequency technology to confirm an offender’s whereabouts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“The transmitter device will be worn on an offender’s ankle and will be electronically linked to tamper-proof base stations in the offender’s home,” Mr Beattie said.
“It is about the size of a watch and is lightweight, waterproof and very robust.
“The device contains a fibre-optic core to ensure that if a breach occurs, or the equipment is tampered with in any way, police and corrections officers will be notified and can respond immediately.”
Mr Beattie said the technology was already being used successfully in the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, and in Australia in Victoria and Western Australia.
However he emphasised that while electronic monitoring would strengthen the surveillance of offenders, it was just one part of the solution.
“This government is well underway to implementing Australia’s toughest regime against dangerous sexual offenders,” Mr Beattie said.
“Queensland was one of the first state’s to sign up to the National Child Sex Offender Register, which gives police the ability to monitor the location of registered child sex offenders.
“We also introduced some of the toughest legislation in the country with the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, (DPSOA) to keep our worst prisoners behind bars indefinitely.
“Last year, we commenced a $15 million overhaul of the Probation and Parole system to introduce even tougher monitoring and surveillance measures.
“Electronic monitoring will add an extra layer of security by giving the courts another tool to monitor dangerous offenders who are placed on Continuing Supervision Orders.”
Ms Spence said up to five offenders were expected to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device by the end of April.
“The State Government will be making numerous DPSOA applications this year and by the end of 2007 we expect up 15 offenders may be subject to electronic monitoring,” Ms Spence said.
“In addition, if any offenders already living in the community under a DPSOA order breach their conditions, we will be asking the courts to amend their orders to include electronic monitoring.
“Over the next three years up to 100 offenders may be supervised with the help of this new technology.”
Ms Spence said electronic monitoring would be available in Brisbane and other major metropolitan areas such as Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns.
“Larger cities have the appropriate surveillance and response capabilities to ensure the technology is used as effectively as possible,” Ms Spence said.
“Offenders who live outside major metropolitan areas will still need to comply with numerous strict conditions, such as suitability assessments of their home and drug and alcohol testing, and will be subject to rigorous surveillance and supervision.”
Ms Spence said the technology would be introduced with numerous safeguards.
“If an offender removes, cuts, tampers with the equipment or moves outside the permitted range without authorisation, the radio signal is interrupted,” Ms Spence said.
“This immediately triggers an alert signal at the central monitoring centre, resulting in an immediate response by corrective services officers.
“In the first instance, corrective services officers will phone the offender’s home. If the offender answers, their identity is verified by the use of voice verification software.
“If this process reports a ‘fail’, officers will immediately be deployed to investigate.
“If an offender is found to have breached their curfew, this will trigger an investigation by a 24 hour police and corrective services criminal intelligence network.
“The offender can be returned to court and if the court determines, sent back to prison.
“Any offender who damages the electronic monitoring equipment can also be charged with Wilful Damage under the Criminal Code Act 1899 and can face up to 5 years jail.”
Ms Spence said Queensland Corrective Services could remove the electronic device if an offender’s risk was assessed as being reduced.
Ms Spence said electronic monitoring was a commitment made at the September election and the State Government was spending $4 million over four years on its implementation.
She said the contract for the equipment was awarded to Australian based company Comsat Security Pty Ltd. The company currently holds the electronic monitoring contracts for Corrective Services in Victoria and Western Australia.
Media inquiries: Premier’s office 3224 4500
Minister’s office - Sarah Martin 3239 6172 / 0408 732 491
March 18, 2007