COMMUNITY PROTECTION PANEL

In reply to Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (13 October 2009).

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Veterans' Affairs): The Member for Bragg asked three questions about the Government's Community Protection Panel.

The Community Protection Panel was established owing to a recommendation by Monsignor David Cappo's report 'To Break the Cycle'.

The aim of the Community Protection Panel is to reduce seriousness and frequency of re-offending by repeat offenders and to enhance community safety overseeing the identification, assessment and intensive case management of serious repeat offenders.

The Community Protection Panel first met in January, 2009. It is made up of nine members, including two community members, and is chaired by Anne Gale, from the Office for Consumer and Business Affairs.

The Member for Bragg is correct that the State Government has allocated $5.6 million to this process over four years.

In May 2008, the State Government announced $5.6 million for the Community Protection Panel. The total budget for 2008-09 was $1,321,000, for 2009-10 it is $1,367,000, for 2010-11 it is $1,415,000, for 2011-12 it is $1,465,000.

In 2008-09 $911,147 was actually expended on intensive case management. The remaining funds are expected to be expended on the operations of the Panel in the intensive service provision in the coming years.

Thirty-seven young offenders, including Operation Mandrake offenders, have been identified by Families SA as presenting a risk to public safety and are receiving intensive services funded by the Community Protection Panel program.

Eight offenders have been specifically reviewed by the Community Protection Panel and multi-agency case planning has been implemented for seven young offenders. One offender on review did not meet the Community Protection Panel referral criteria and was referred out of the program.

Of those seven I am told that four are considered Operation Mandrake offenders and all those are currently in custody.

None of the Community Protection Panel offenders have been released and most are not scheduled for release in the near future.