Extended Supervision of Sexual Offenders in Australia and New Zealand: Differences in Implementation Across Jurisdictions

Abstract

Australia and New Zealand have joined the movement of many Western societies in recent years to address a perceived gap in public safety by passing legislation allowing for extended supervision of sex offenders in the community after their release from prison. The Australian State of Victoria passed a law similar to that of New Zealand, and both laws have now been in effect for a similar period of time. Yet despite having comparable laws and approximately comparable base populations, there have been 145 extended supervision orders imposed in New Zealand and 20 such orders in Victoria. This article examines the differences in implementation and the underlying procedures used in the two jurisdictions to understand these very different outcomes. Implications for professional practice, ethics, public safety, and policy development are discussed.

Key words:

• actuarial measures
• expert witness
• extended supervision
• judicial decision-making
• public policy
• risk assessment
• sex offenders