Parole Board Decision

In the matter of the Corrections Act 1997

and

In the matter of an Application for Parole by Savannah Brown

23 May 2008

Reason for Decision

On 27 November 2007 the Applicant appeared in the Supreme Court of Tasmania and was convicted of the following crimes :

• One (1) count of Aggravated Robbery;
• One (1) count of Perverting the Course of Justice.

Pursuant to Section 385A of the Criminal Code, Justice Evans also dealt with the following summary offences when sentencing the Applicant for the above crimes :

• One (1) count of driving whilst unlicensed with alcohol in body;
• Driving whilst disqualified;
• Using an unregistered motor vehicle;
• Using a motor vehicle with no premium cover.

In relation to all of the crimes and offences committed by the Applicant she was sentenced to a total period of imprisonment of twenty-two (22) months and it was ordered that she not be eligible to be considered for parole until serving eleven (11) months of that sentence. The sentence of imprisonment was ordered to commence on 15 June 2007 which was the date that the Applicant was first taken into custody.

On 9 August 2007 the Applicant appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court and was convicted of one (1) count of driving whilst disqualified. The Applicant was sentenced to a period of imprisonment of four (4) months. No order was made in relation to parole. It was ordered that the sentence of imprisonment was to commence on 9 August 2007.

As such the Applicant is eligible to be released on parole on 14 May 2008.

The Board has been provided with documentation which fully outlines the circumstances surrounding the offences committed by the Applicant.

The Board has also been provided with the Comments on Passing Sentence made by Justice Evans when sentencing the Applicant on 27 November 2007. The Comments on Passing Sentence fully outline the factual circumstances surrounding the crimes and offences committed by the Applicant.

The Board has been advised that no victim is registered in relation to the crimes committed by the Applicant and as such the statutory criteria in that regard have been met.

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.

In particular, the Board has taken into account the following matters :

a. A comprehensive pre-parole report prepared by her probation officer.

b. The Applicant’s prior convictions.

c. The Applicant’s prison record.

d. A report prepared by Ms J Cromer, Psychologist.

e. The fact that the Applicant has completed the Parole Awareness Course.

Whilst incarcerated the Applicant has completed a number of training courses.

The Applicant is presently employed as a result of a placement with her present employer through Work Skills Employment Solutions. The Board has been advised that the position that the Applicant currently holds will be open to her upon her release from prison.

The Applicant will therefore have full-time employment upon her release from prison. This is a significant change in the Applicant’s life style as she has previously only ever held what can best be described as seasonal work.

The Board has been advised that the Applicant’s Probation Officer interviewed her immediate supervisor at work and he spoke highly of the Applicant.

The Board has been advised that the Applicant will have stable accommodation upon her release from prison. Given that the Applicant will have full-time employment upon her release from prison the Board is of the view that there is little to be gained by the Applicant remaining in prison.

The Board is of the view that the Applicant’s reintegration into the wider community will best be served by the Applicant being granted a period of parole and allowing her to take up a full-time position of employment.

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

Paroled 26/05/2008 – 14/04/2009