Parole Board Decision

In the matter of the Corrections Act 1997

and

In the matter of an Application for Parole by Timothy John PEARCE

25 May 2007

Reason for Decision

On 13 November 2003 the Applicant was convicted of 2 counts of rape in the Hobart Supreme Court

The Applicant was sentenced to 5 and a half years imprisonment for these crimes with a non-parole period of 2 years and nine months.

The Applicant became eligible to be released on parole on 10 August 2006.

In considering the application for parole the Board has taken into account the statutory criteria which it is required to do pursuant to the Corrections Act 1997.

In particular the Board notes the following information when assessing the Applicant’s application for parole:

1. A pre-parole report prepared by his probation officer dated 29 March 2007.
2. An addendum to the above report dated the 24 April 2007.
3. A further home assessment by the probation office dated the 10 May 2007 indicating appropriate accommodation upon release.
4. A report following the completion of the Sexual Offenders Treatment Program which notes the Applicant’s acceptance of responsibility for his crimes
5. A psychiatric report dated the 11 May 2007 indicating a low risk of future violence and a medium to low risk of re-offending with regard to sexual offences.
6. Justice Blow’s comments on passing sentence including the lack of prior offences, the applicant’s low intelligence and a plea of guilty at an early stage.
7. The Board notes the Applicant has completed the Parole Awareness program and has had 11 S42 leaves of absence to assist in re-integration, which proceeded without incident.

Taking all matters into account, the Board is of the view that the Applicant now meets the statutory criteria to be granted parole and that his reintegration into the wider community will best be served by the Applicant being granted a period of parole.

Conditions attaching to the Applicant’s release will be that that he attends appropriate counselling for sexual offenders for a period of 6 to 12 months as arranged by his parole officer, that he adheres to the strategies in his relapse prevention program and that he not frequent licensed premises or use alcohol for the duration of his parole.

Paroled 12/06/07 - 09/05/07