New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole hearing

Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Michael Dean BLOWERS

Hearing: 8 July 2016 at [withheld]

Members of the Board:
Judge M Behrens QC – Panel Convenor
Mr G Crowley
Ms G Hughes

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Michael Blowers is 51, his parole eligibility date was 4 July 2016 and his sentence end date is 2 September 2019.

2. He is serving four years nine months for methamphetamine supply and drugs theft.  The offending occurred when Mr Blowers was a senior police officer in Whangarei.

3. In brief he became involved with a female informant and their relationship merged into a personal one.  The full circumstances of his offending were outlined in the sentencing Judge’s decision dated 3 December 2014.

4. As is usual in any case before the Parole Board the task the Board has is to assess whether or not a person, if released, would be an undue risk of re-offending between release date and sentence end date.  The Board, of course, takes into account the reasons for the imposition of the sentence, and the remarks which accompany it.

5. As the sentencing Judge noted, despite what Mr Blowers did and what was a huge fall from grace, he was genuinely remorseful for his offending.  The Judge also noted that Mr Blowers had been assessed, realistically in the Judge’s view, as being at a low risk of re-offending.

6. There is nothing in the report the Board now has on Mr Blowers’ performance in prison that can increase the risk the Judge saw as low.  In fact, not surprisingly, perhaps, Mr Blowers has been what might be said to be a model prisoner.  The report we have notes that he has been of assistance to both prison officers and inmates.

7. However, the report does say that his “offender supportive attitudes and entitlement” are identified as the main rehabilitative need that requires oversight by Community Corrections when he is released.

8. In consideration of that statement the Board sees the imposition of conditions relating to assessment for programmes including psychological assistance, as necessary.

9. In the end, though, the Board is driven to the conclusion that given the information we have both from the Judge’s sentencing notes and from the parole assessment report that if released he will not be an undue risk of re-offending between release and sentence end dates. He can be released on the 27 July on the usual Standard Conditions and the Special Conditions set out in the Parole Assessment Report as amended by us. Those conditions will operate until 31 January 2018.

10. In reaching this decision the Board takes into account the support that Mr Blowers will have in the community and, of course, the conditions of parole that will apply.
(1) Attend for a psychological assessment and attend and complete any treatment/counselling as recommended by the psychological assessment to the satisfaction of your Probation Officer and treatment provider.
(2) If required to undertake and complete any assessment if directed by a Probation Officer.  To attend and complete any counselling or programme and or abide by the rules of the programme/counselling to the satisfaction of your Probation Officer.
(3) To reside at [withheld] and not to move from that address without the prior written approval of a Probation Officer.
(4) To notify your Probation Officer prior to starting, terminating or changing your position or place of employment.

Judge M Behrens QC
Panel Convenor