Shaune Leslie SMALL 9/3/2022

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Shaune Leslie SMALL

Hearing:                                            09 March 2022

at Otago Corrections Facility via MS Teams

Members of the Board:                    Mr Neville Trendle – Panel Convenor

Ms Carolina Tiumalu

Ms Materoa Dodd

In Attendance:                                  [withheld] - Case Manager


DECISION OF THE BOARD


  1. Shaune Leslie Small is serving a sentence of five years four months’ imprisonment for serious violent and sexual offending against [withheld]. His statutory release date is 21 May 2023.
  2. Mr Small completed phase 1 of the Drug Treatment Programme in 2019 but was exited from the unit during phase 2. He then attended the Adult Sex Offender Treatment Programme but was exited from that programme after six months for similar reasons. The psychological assessment recently prepared noted that he appeared to have an intellectual understanding of session content, but had difficulties internalising and learning and applying the material to his own thinking and behaviour. He also had difficulties responding to feedback from others.
  3. The psychological assessment recommended that Mr Small engage on an individual basis with a psychologist with a view to completing a safety plan. That was also reflected in the outcome of his participation in the Adult Sex Offender Treatment Programme.
  4. Mr Small has been accepted by [withheld] for supported accommodation and a unit is available for him from 16 March. He submitted that the Board could release him to take advantage of that support with the psychological work being completed in the community. In that regard he identified two risk situations: first contact with [withheld]; and secondly, entering into a relationship. His plan for both was one of avoidance.
  1. Mr Small emphasised that he had been doing all that he could to further his position, but he anticipated it would be up to 12 months before he saw the psychologist. His case manager indicated that efforts are being made by the psychologists to reduce the backlog and it was likely Mr Small would be seen within a month or two. The Board regards that engagement as essential before we could be satisfied that Mr Small’s release would not pose an undue risk to others.
  2. He has no safety plan. He has very significant difficulties with [withheld]. His risk appreciation is somewhat narrow given the deficiencies identified in the psychological report. He needs specialist assistance to make further progress and to develop a viable safety plan. Moreover, his release proposal is somewhat thin with very limited support in the Otago area.
  3. Parole today is declined. Mr Small will be scheduled to return to the Board in five months, by 31 August 2022. We see that as providing him with sufficient time to complete the recommended work with a psychologist and to further engage with his Case Manager to enlarge his support for when he returns to the community.
  4. We note he has outstanding fines. It may his Case Manager could assist him with a further application to the Court for the fines to be remitted in view of his circumstances.

Mr Neville Trendle

Panel Convenor