New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole hearing

Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Rangi Rick BROWN

Hearing: 29 February 2016 at [Withheld] Via AVL to Parole Board Office

Members of the Board:

Mr N Trendle – Panel Convenor
Mr L Tawera
Mr L Comer

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Rangi Rick Brown is making a further appearance before the Board on a sentence of 11 years’ imprisonment for manslaughter, committing a crime with a firearm and a being a member of an organised criminal group.  His statutory release date is 19 November 2019.

2. Mr Brown has an extensive history beginning in 1987.  His Roc*RoI is 0.51779.

3. To date on his sentence Mr Brown has completed the Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme and the Drug Treatment Programme.  He received positive reports from both.

4. Prior to today’s hearing the Board received a letter from the wh?nau of his victim.  They sought assurance that Mr Brown’s participation in the programmes he completed bought about change and they also sought assurance that upon release he would not enter the Taranaki region.  For his part, Mr Brown’s confirmed the undertaking he gave at the last hearing that he would respect his victim wishes, so far as entering Taranaki was concerned.  Insofar as the completion of the programmes is concerned, Mr Brown told us that this had led to a change in his thinking; he now realises how his actions have impact on others and now he thinks about others before he acts.

5. Mr Brown has moved into the [Withheld], Internal Self Care.  He is working on the painting crew.  His acting PCO, who accompanied him to the Board, advised that his conduct is good.  There are no issues with his compliance.

6. Mr Brown is looking to progress along a reintegration pathway.  He has commenced that journey.  The Board is satisfied that all the work that is practicable, so far as his rehabilitation is concerned has been completed and it is appropriate that he now make progress with reintegration activities.

7. Accordingly we support his transition into Outer Self Care and to participate in whatever other reintegration activities, including Release to Work that may be available to him.  In Mr Brown’s case, we see Release to Work as an important prerequisite to preparing for a return to the community, having regard to the length of his sentence.

8. For today parole is declined.  Mr Brown did not expect it.  He is motivated to progress along a reintegration pathway and to develop a release plan to either [Withheld].

9. He will be scheduled to return to the Board by 31 March 2017.

Mr N Trendle
Panel Convenor