Parole Board Decision

In the matter of the Corrections Act 1997

and

In the matter of an Application for Parole by Bruce Troy ROLAND

25 January 2008

Reason for Decision

On 8 February 2007 the applicant appeared in the Supreme Court of Tasmania and was convicted of one count of unlawfully injuring property contrary to section 273 of the Criminal Code and one count of assault contrary to section 194 of the Criminal Code. The applicant was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 18 months. Such term of imprisonment was to commence on 22 December 2006, which was the date the applicant was first taken into custody. It was ordered that the applicant not be eligible to be considered for parole in relation to those crimes until serving 10 months of the sentence of imprisonment.

On 3 April 2007 the applicant appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court and was convicted of one count of receiving stolen property. The applicant was sentenced to a period of imprisonment of three months. No order was made in relation to the applicant being eligible to be considered for parole and as such he was required to serve the entirety of that sentence of imprisonment. The sentence of imprisonment was, ordered to be served cumulatively upon the sentence of imprisonment imposed upon him in the Supreme Court of Tasmania on 8 February 2007.

In relation to the crimes and offences committed by the applicant he was sentenced to a total period of imprisonment of 21 months and he was not eligible to be considered for parole until serving 13 months of that sentence. As such the applicant became eligible to be released on parole on 20 January 2008.

The Board has been provided with documentation, which outlines the circumstances surrounding the offence of receiving stolen property.

The Board has been provided with the comments on passing sentence made by Justice Blow when sentencing the applicant in relation to the crimes of unlawfully injuring property and assault. The comments on passing sentence fully outline the factual circumstances surrounding the crimes committed by the applicant and provide details as to his personal circumstances as at that date.

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

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

1. the comprehensive pre-parole report prepared by his probation officer,

2. the applicant’s prison record which of late can be described as satisfactory,

3. the applicant’s prior convictions,

4. the fact that the applicant has completed the parole awareness course,

5. the fact that the applicant has taken advantage of educational courses offered to him.

The applicant has anger management issues, which accounts for a number of his prior convictions. The applicant has undertaken an anger management course whilst incarcerated.

The applicant is of Aboriginal descent and will be provided with support by the Aboriginal community upon his release from prison.

The applicant has no formal qualifications, but has enrolled at TAFE to undertake a welding apprenticeship. This course has been arranged through the Prison’s Aboriginal Liaison Officer.

The applicant will have stable accommodation upon his release from prison.

Given that the applicant has enrolled in the welding course at TAFE and will have the support of the wider Aboriginal community, the Board is of the view that the applicant meets the statutory criteria to be granted a period of parole.

Paroled 05/02/08 – 21/09/08