New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Shelley Lee WILLIAMS

Hearing: 2 July 2019

at Christchurch Women’s Prison via AVL from Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility

Members of the Board:

• Judge J P Gittos QSO – Panel Convenor
• Mr C King
• Mr D Hauraki

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Shelley Lee Williams is a 42 year old woman serving a sentence of five years’ imprisonment for multiple robberies and receiving charges. The robberies were respectively of a jeweller’s shop, an antique shop, and the food market in Dunedin which she robbed using an imitation firearm.  She has a history of some 60 prior convictions of which some 12 are for violent offending, many for drugs, and the rest are dishonesty, breach and the like.  She has multiple prostitution convictions in Australia.
2. When she was last before the Board on 4 March she had completed the Kowhiritanga programme, but presented a weak release plan and the Board considered that she should do further work with the psychologist.  She has since been seen by the psychologist and we have a comprehensive report following that exercise.  Her behaviour has improved since the last Board meeting and she is now IDU [identified drug user] clear.  She has been interviewed for alcohol and drug treatment but is unsuitable for group treatment.
3. Her release plan involves going to [withheld] which is an approved address.  Ms Williams has particular difficulties in the prison setting being a transgender person who has had gender reassignment procedures carried out.
4. It would seem that no further rehabilitation programmes will be offered to her in the prison setting. The psychologist assesses her as being at overall low risk of general
   re-offending although at moderate risk of violent re-offending, and as presenting a moderate reintegrative risk.
5. The psychologist recommends that some one-on-one psychologist’s treatment be pursued, and this could suitably be carried out in the community.  We think that is a preferred option really for Ms Williams given the difficulties of the prison setting for her and for prison management, and overall we are satisfied that the risk is now is sufficiently contained to admit of a grant of parole.
6. She is to be released on parole with effect from 5 August by which time [withheld] will be back in residence at [withheld]. The standard conditions will be in place until sentence end date.  The special conditions will be as follows and are to remain in place for two years after her release date apart from the curfew which will be for a six month period:

   (1) Not to possess, use, or consume alcohol, controlled drugs or psychoactive substances except controlled drugs prescribed for you by a health professional.

   (2) To comply with any direction made under section 29B(2)(b) of the Parole Act 2002 in January 2020,  to attend a hearing at a time and place to be notified to you.

   (3) To attend an alcohol and drug assessment, and attend, participate in and complete any treatment or counselling directed by a Probation Officer.

   (4) To attend, participate in and complete a psychological counselling designed to reduce the risk of re-offending as directed by a Probation Officer.

   (5) To attend an assessment for a departmental programme/maintenance group, and attend, participate in and adhere to the rules of the programme/maintenance group as directed by a Probation Officer.

   (6) For the first 6 months following your release to be at your approved address between the hours of 9.00pm and 6.00am daily unless you have the prior written approval of a probation officer.

   (7) To reside at an address approved in writing by a probation officer, and not move from that address unless you have the prior written approval of a probation officer.

   Please note: you may be required to undergo a drug or alcohol test and or submit to drug or alcohol monitoring.