Ruairi Kern TAYLOR 10/6/2021

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Ruairi Kern TAYLOR

Hearing: 10 June 2021

at Otago Corrections Facility

via AVL from New Zealand Parole Board, Wellington

Members of the Board: Mr J Thomson (Panel Convenor)

Mr P Elenio

Ms F Pimm

DECISION OF THE BOARD

  1. Ruairi Kern Taylor, aged 25, has made a second appearance before the Board for the consideration of release on parole.  Mr Taylor is serving a sentence of three years three months’ imprisonment imposed on 2 December 2020 and he became eligible for parole on the same day.  The sentence ends on 3 December 2022.
  2. The sentence was imposed for attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, intentional damage and assault with a blunt instrument.  Mr Taylor pleaded guilty to these matters.
  3. Mr Taylor effectively has no previous convictions.  The conviction for assault with intent to injure was committed while he was on remand in custody and was violence towards another inmate.
  4. The last appearance before the Board was on 13 January 2021.  The Board recorded that Mr Taylor did not engage well with staff members.  There was no clear indication to the Board about Mr Taylor's (withheld) condition but there had been some involvement in the past with (withheld).  The Board requested a psychologist's assessment for the next hearing.
  5. We have a psychologist's report dated 4 May 2021.  It is a useful document.  Mr Taylor was interviewed at length.  He engaged appropriately and politely.  The psychologist refers to a family (withheld) characterised by high levels of (withheld).  Mr Taylor himself presents with (withheld).
  6. (withheld)
  7. In the summary of risk and risk management the psychologist assesses that Mr Taylor is considered to be at moderate to low risk of serious violent offending.  It is however clear that when acute factors are present, he has shown ability to engage in serious violent offending which may result in physical to the victim.
  8. The author of the psychologist's report at paragraph 53 states that it is clear that Mr Taylor will be exposed to a number of stressors when he is released and that risk will be particularly heightened given the profile of his offending.  At present Mr Taylor is not engaged in treatment to address psychological factors and this may increase his risk of violent offending.  He has not received (withheld) intervention related to his complex (withheld).
  9. In the recommendations section the psychologist considers that Mr Taylor's offending occurred as part of a long-term long-standing and enduring pattern of psychological regression and instability.
  10. Although Mr Taylor is currently receiving (withheld), this alone will not address the complex (withheld) and psychologist therefore (withheld).
  11. In addition, the psychologist also recommends a focussed period of individual intervention with a Department of Corrections psychologist.  Mr Taylor is considered to present with a unique offending profile and set of offence related risk factors that could benefit from brief intervention.  (withheld).
  12. Further the psychologist is of the opinion that Corrections (withheld).
  13. If released Mr Taylor is now proposing to live with (withheld) near (withheld).  There appears to be no objection to this from the Department of Corrections.  The report notes however the limited provision of (withheld) in the region.
  14. There are very clear recommendations from the psychologist as to the way forward for Mr Taylor to manage the risk that he may present to the safety of the community.  We believe that these should be adopted, and he should be provided with the services recommended by the psychologist.  As he is in the care of the Department of Corrections at present, we assume that the Department will instigate all the recommendations made by the psychologist to assist Mr Taylor in reducing his risk and the safety of the community.
  15. Until these things are undertaken, we cannot be satisfied that he no longer poses an undue risk to the safety of the community.  Parole is declined.
  16. Mr Taylor will be scheduled to be seen again by the Board in January next year and no later than 31 January 2022.

Mr J Thomson

Panel Convenor