The recent release of a serial violent sex offender back on to the streets of Cairns demonstrates the flaws in the governments soft on crime approach.
It is absolutely beyond belief that a prisoner deemed a serious risk of re-offending has been released back on to our streets to strike again. This highlights the problems with our current legislation and procedures for granting parole. This is yet another example of why as the Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns I am calling for legislative change and an urgent review of our parole processes.
The latest example is where a local man was released from prison despite a government attempt to have him kept in custody indefinitely after having appeared in court 17 times, a number of times for vicious and savage sexual assaults on innocent and unsuspecting women. It was also revealed that despite completing sex offender courses whilst in custody he committed a further sex related offence in prison towards another inmate.
The treating doctors indicated this person poses a ‘high risk of re-offending, both sexually and violently’. Shouldn’t this be the overriding criteria on what a serious violent sex offender’s release should be based?”
Exactly what criteria has to be applied that such a diagnosis and assessment is not sufficient to keep someone in custody? They are clearly not rehabilitated and pose a real and significant risk to the people of our community. The doctors then go on to say this risk could be reduced with appropriate supervision. This shows the doctors have no idea of what services are really available to Corrective Services. We have seen over and over again what happens when these prisoners breach these supervision orders. Zero. Nothing. We have had serial sex offenders on orders breaching orders going to nudie bars with no consequences. They are released to the community again to prey on the vulnerable members of our community.
Some figures even suggest that of the 81 offenders on supervision orders 53 breached them last year alone. More than half of these offenders breached their orders last year with about 150 breaches recorded.
The courts are restrained by the governments’ lack of will to address the legislative measures that could quite easily close these loopholes to ensure that serial violent sex offenders are rehabilitated or not given the opportunity to re-offend until they are. Their soft on crime and revolving prison door policies are placing the members of our community in danger.
I call on the government to have the courage to make the legislative change required and stop hiding behind decisions made by judges who have no choice due to the governments flawed legislation. An urgent review of parole procedures and process is required and this includes the allocation of funding for rehabilitation programs to Corrective Services. It is time for the government to stop the spin doctoring and chest beating and take some real legislative action to fix these loopholes and protect our community.
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