New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole hearing

Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Caleb Peter KOVALESKI

Hearing: 4 August 2017 At [Withheld] Via AVL from New Zealand Parole Board, Wellington

Members of the Board:

• Mr N Trendle – Panel Convenor
• Ms M More
• Ms W Taumaunu

Counsel:

• [Withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Caleb Peter Kovaleski, who is 26 years of age, is serving an effective sentence of three years three months’ imprisonment for using a firearm against a law enforcement officer, unlawfully possessing a firearm, disqualified driving and other offences.
He became eligible for parole on 2 August 2017 after spending 111 days on remand.
He has a statutory release date of 1 October 2019.

2. Mr Kovaleski has a RoC*Rol of 0.69072 which reflects a nine year history of criminal offending.  He has accumulated over 85 convictions in that period with a significant number involving substance abuse related crime and over 20 convictions for breaching sentences, court orders or other obligations.  Moreover, there are several convictions for violent offending.

3. Mr Kovaleski was sentence planned to participate in the [Withheld].  He was represented today by his counsel, [Withheld], who made written submissions in advance of the hearing indicating that Mr Kovaleski accepted that he needed to complete the programmes on his sentence plan and reintegration activities before he anticipated being considered for release on parole.  She advised that Mr Kovaleski was highly motivated to complete the programmes for which he was scheduled.  He was well aware of the pathway and was focused on what was needed and in his commitment to achieve it.

4. The Board notes Mr Kovaleski’s long-term abuse of methamphetamine and supports his completion of the Drug Treatment Programme component of the [Withheld] Programme.  Thereafter, we support his progression to reintegration activities.

5. His PCO, who attended the Board, confirmed Mr Kovaleski’s exemplary work in the unit.  He has responded to all challenges, in particular coming from a pākehā background.  He has made excellent progress.

6. As indicated, the Board supports Mr Kovaleski completing the rehabilitation activities for which he is planned and, thereafter, progressing to reintegration activities.  Parole is declined.  Mr Kovaleski will be scheduled to return to the Board in eight months, by 30 April 2018.

Mr N Trendle
Panel Convenor