Parole Board Decision

In the matter of the Corrections Act 1997

and

In the matter of an Application for Parole by Bruce Stanley TOWNSEND

23 November 2007

Reason for Decision

On 28 June 2006 the Applicant was convicted of three counts of receiving stolen property contrary to Section 258 of the Criminal Code.

The Applicant was sentenced to a period of imprisonment of 2 years and 9 months to date from 23 June 2006. It was ordered that the Applicant not be eligible to be considered for parole until serving half of that sentence.

As such the Applicant became eligible to be considered for parole on the 7 November 2007.

The Board has received advice from the Victims Assistance Unit that no victim is registered in relation to the crimes committed by the Applicant and as such the statutory criteria in that regard has been met.

The Board has been provided with the comments on passing sentence made by Justice Blow when sentencing the Applicant. The comments on passing sentence fully outline the factual circumstances surrounding the crimes committed by the Applicant as well as the personal circumstances of the Applicant at the time of sentencing.

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

The Board has taken into account the following matters when assessing the Applicant’s application for parole:

1. A comprehensive pre-parole report prepared by his probation officer.
2. The Applicant’s prison record, which can be described as satisfactory.
3. The applicant’s prior convictions.
4. The fact that the Applicant has completed the parole awareness course.
5. A written submission prepared by the Applicant in support of his application for parole.
6. A number of references provided to the Board supporting the Applicant’s application for parole.
7. The fact that the Applicant has participated in ongoing education whilst incarcerated and has in fact presented educational opportunities to other inmates.
8. The fact that the Applicant has completed the course known as preparing for change.

The Applicant has had a number of conditional releases pursuant to Section 42 of the Corrections Act 1997. Each period of conditional release has occurred without incident.

The Applicant will have stable employment upon his release from prison. The Applicant will return to live with his partner upon his release from prison.

Whilst in prison the Applicant has held a number of positions of trust. He has presented a number of educational courses to other prisoners.

The Board is of the view that the Applicant meets the relevant statutory criteria to be granted a period of parole.

Paroled 4 December 2007 – 22 March 2009