Jason MACKRELL - 25/02/2020

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Jason Craig MACKRELL

Hearing: 25 February 2020

at Auckland South Corrections Facility via AVL from New Zealand Parole Board, Wellington

Members of the Board:

  • Sir Ron Young – Chairperson
  • Mr B McMurray
  • Dr G Coyle
  • Dr J Skipworth

In Attendance:

  • [withheld]

Supporters:

  • [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

  1. Jason Craig Mackrell was sentenced to preventive detention for murder, attempted murder and rape (x3). He was first imprisoned for this offending in 1997.
  2. He is on minimum security classification.
  3. Mr Mackrell has been in [withheld] subject to the Mental Health Act for the last two years.
  4. We saw him last in February 2019. The Board then noted that he had completed the Adult Sex Offender Treatment Programme (ASOTP) and the Drug Treatment Programme (DTP) but that he had shown in prison significant mental instability and so he had been admitted as a special patient under section 45 of the Mental Health Act. He was subsequently taken to [withheld], where as we have noted, he has been for the last two years.
  5. Overall, he has made very good progress during the course of those two years. After an initial period in locked accommodation he has been given gradually increased leave so that currently he is on unescorted six-hour per day leave; sometimes he has been away on such leave on a daily basis.
  6. Mr Mackrell has been consistent in taking his medication. He has had no symptoms of mental illness and has been very settled. He is continuing to undertake psychological sessions on a one on one basis.
  7. Over the next 12 months or so it is hoped that there will be further reintegration into the community.  He is eligible to be transferred to supported residential accommodation which could be up to six nights per week, with one night back in [withheld].  Currently, we are told there are two people who are waitlisted for that accommodation and it may be six to 12 months before Mr Mackrell is able to be transferred to the supportive residential accommodation.
  8. We talked with Mr Mackrell also about his offending and whether he had any existing deviant sexual thoughts. He accepted that he had such thoughts. The treating psychologist noted that she had discussed this with Mr Mackrell over the last 12 months. Mr Mackrell, in questioning, seemed to have forgotten that aspect of their work.  The relevance of mentioning that discussion is to ensure that Mr Mackrell has an adequate safety plan which deals with his deviant sexual thoughts.
  9. In the meantime, we are satisfied that Mr Mackrell remains an undue risk. He needs to continue to work on his reintegration. He needs to work with his psychologist on continuing to develop his safety plan as a living document and acknowledging and providing for a safe plan for his deviant sexual thoughts.
  10. We will see him again by May 2021 when we hope we will have a report on his progress at the supportive residence.

Sir Ron Young
Chairperson