New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing
Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Anne SAVAGE

Hearing: 5 October 2016 at [Withheld] via video Link to [Withheld]

Members of the Board:

• Judge M Behrens QC – Panel Convenor
• Ms M More
• Mr P Elenio

Support Persons:

• [Withheld]
• [Withheld]
• [Withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Anne Savage is 53.  Her parole eligibility date is 11 October 2016 and her sentence end date is 10 February 2019.  She is serving three years and six months for manslaughter.

2. We have had no sentencing notes, but from what we have heard from Ms Savage herself and from a reading of a psychological report of 17 August 2016, Ms Savage made a drunken attack on her mother during an argument between them over historical issues of abuse.  Her mother died three days after the assault.  Following that, Ms Savage was on bail for eight months, was charged with manslaughter and pleaded guilty to it.

3. Her history shows minimal offending, the only serious matter being a driving with excess breath alcohol in 2001, when her level was 637.

4 . She has completed the 66 sessions of the [Withheld]  Programme on 8 June 2016 and has been described by her treating psychologist as having gained significant insight into her risk factors.  She is considered to be at a low-risk of further offending.

5. Ms Savage has outlined a comprehensive and in-depth safety plan.  There may be some problems within her release community because of her offending and how it has affected her whānau, but she intends to meet these appropriately through [Withheld]  contacts.  One of the persons supporting her today was her friend, [Withheld], who is attached to [Withheld].  She explained to us that there will be positive assistance for both Ms Savage and her whānau in coming to terms with what has happened here.

6. Ms Savage was also supported by her counsellor, [Withheld].  She described counselling which has taken place under [Withheld] that will continue, should Ms Savage be released.

7. Her RoC*Rol is 0.04831 and her classification is minimum.  She presently lives in a four bedroom villa in the Self Care Unit and has been the subject of concern about personality clashes there.  However, these have been dealt with without her having to leave.  She has attended weekly [Withheld]  since her prison arrival.

8. We were advised that she was waitlisted for the Alcohol and Other Drug brief, intermediate and intense programmes, but it has been confirmed today that these programmes have been taken out of her sentence plan.  Ms Savage, herself, says that she gained much in this area from the [Withheld]  Programme.  She has completed a [Withheld] course and will have social worker support, upon her release if that happens.

9. She has been working in the external grounds party and on the site in the [Withheld]  industry, which has become a positive interest of hers.  She has an approved address with two persons that she has worked for before.  They support her release and guarantee that she will get 32 hours a week employment, which will complement her finishing the apiculture level 3 certificate.

10. One proposed release condition is to attend an appropriate AOD and this with the work that she has done through [Withheld] Programme should cope, with the psychologist’s concern about the monitoring of her substance abuse.

11. The Board has come to the conclusion that given Ms Savage’s own insight and the support that has been explained for her and was evident to us today that, if released, she will not be an undue risk of re offending between release and sentence end dates.  Accordingly she can be released on [Withheld] October 2016, on the usual standard conditions and on the special conditions contained in the parole assessment report, as amended by us.

12. The conditions will operate until 30 April 2018:
(1) If required, attend a whanau/family hui at an approved venue within a time frame to be determined by your probation officer.
(2) To attend and complete an appropriate Alcohol and Drug Programme to the satisfaction of your probation officer and programme provider. Details of the appropriate programme to be determined by 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) For four months from the date of your release not to be away from your approved address between the hours of 10.00 pm and 6.00 am daily without the prior written approval of a probation officer.
(5) To continue with grief counselling [Withheld] and be supported by one of your key supports identified by Probation.
(6) To attend appointments with a counsellor or mentor as directed by a probation officer and to the satisfaction of the service provider.
(7) Not to have contact or otherwise associate with any victim of your offending, directly or indirectly, without the prior written approval of a probation officer.
(8) Not to possess or consume alcohol or illicit drugs.