Parole Board Decision

In the matter of the Corrections Act 1997

and

In the matter of an Application for Parole by Adrian Allan Jones

9 May 2008

Reason for Decision

On 10 April 2006 the Applicant appeared in the Supreme Court of Tasmania and pleaded guilty to one (1) count of Rape contrary to Section 185(1) of the Criminal Code.

The Applicant was sentenced to a period of imprisonment of four (4) years and it was ordered that he not be eligible to be considered for parole until serving two (2) years of that sentence. The Applicant became eligible to be considered for parole on 9 April 2008.

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 crime committed by the Applicant. In relation to the Applicant’s personal circumstances the Board notes the following comments made by His Honour :

“You are 30 years old. You have no significant prior convictions. You seem to have led quite a blameless life. You have not been to prison before. You have not been sentenced to a Community Service Order or a Suspended Sentence before.

However this was a serious crime. The young woman placed her trust in you and you breached that trust at a time when she was very vulnerable. Because of the seriousness of this crime, you will have to go to prison. Because of the lack of significant prior convictions, I am going to impose the shortest possible non-parole period”.

The Board has been advised by the Victims Assistance Unit that a victim is registered in relation to the crime committed by the Applicant. The victim chose to provide a Victim Impact Statement to the Board. The Board has carefully considered the Victim Impact Statement and notes the affect that the Applicant’s crime has had upon her. The victim has suffered both physically and psychologically and she continues to do so.

The victim of the Applicant’s crime has requested that the Board makes specific conditions which will prevent the Applicant from having contact with her. In accordance with her request, the Board will make specific conditions preventing the Applicant from having contact with his victim.

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 when assessing the Applicant’s application for parole :

a. The comprehensive pre-parole report prepared by the Applicant’s probation officer.

b. The Applicant’s prison record which can be described as satisfactory.

c. The Applicant’s prior convictions.

d. A number of personal references provided to the Board by the Applicant.

e. A comprehensive written submission prepared by the Applicant addressing the relevant statutory criteria which the Board is required to take into account.

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

The Applicant has made use of his time in prison and has undertaken a number of educational courses.

The Applicant will have employment upon his release from prison.

The Board has been advised that the Applicant was assessed in relation to his participation in the Sexual Offenders Treatment program. The Board has been advised that the Applicant was assessed as being at a low risk of re-offending and as such was ineligible to participate in that program.

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

The Applicant has held a number of positions of trust within the prison system and has held positions outside the confines of the prison. A number of Custodial Officers have provided references in support of the Applicant’s application for parole and speak highly of him.

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

Paroled 27/05/2008 – 9/04/2010