Threat to shut down Parole offices

Date: 07 April 2010

The NSW Department of Corrective Services has announced to staff that it intends to close down the Deniliquin, Narrobri, Junee and Katoomba probation and parole offices.

"This could have significant ramifications for public safety", says Steve Turner, Assistant General Secretary of the PSA.

"The Probation and Parole Service plays a pivotal role in ensuring that offenders are effectively supervised within the community"

"We are concerned about the reduced level of contact with offenders. The proposed closures will mean parolees will be required to travel further to report. They will be visited at home less frequently. Consequently there will be more breaches of parole conditions, and less protection for the community."

"The parolees include offenders who can be steered in the right direction by proper supervision and assistance."

The head minister, Attorney General John Hatzistergos, says he wants to reduce the prison population by 10 percent by 2016 by improving rehabilitation services.

"How's he going to do this if he is abolishing probation and parole offices? Probation and parole officers are the foundation to good rehabilitation services" says Steve Turner..

"The future of the Probation and Parole Officers and support staff is also uncertain" said Mr Turner.

"They will face relocation and uprooting of their families or excessive daily travel. For instance closure of Deniliquin office will mean they will have to go to Albury, or Griffith as will reporting parolees. And following the Narrabri closure, the service will be provided from Moree. "

The Public Service Association calls upon the Department to ensure better services so that Hatzistergos' rehabilitation plans do work.

For further information

Contact:	Steve Turner, Assistant General Secretary
Union:	Public Service Association of NSW
Phone:	9220 0970
WWW:	http://www.psa.labor.net.au/

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