Emergency accommodation for high risk offenders – reviews of process
Emergency housing for released offenders is provided and funded by both MSD and the Department of Corrections. Corrections is responsible for providing emergency housing support to the highest risk offenders – those with extended supervision orders and those on parole with electronic monitoring. MSD provides emergency housing support to all other released offenders, with input from Corrections.
In April 2018 a high risk child sex offender was placed by Corrections in a motel that also housed vulnerable families being supported by MSD through emergency housing special needs grants. MSD was not aware of the placement at the time. The offender was removed by Corrections at the end of July 2018 after it became aware that families were staying at the motel.
Internal Review – commissioned and completed by MSD
On learning that the offender had been placed in the motel, MSD commissioned an internal review to understand the processes and practices used by MSD when they become aware that high risk offenders have been placed into motels by Corrections.
Daily information sharing on motel usage was put in place between MSD and Corrections immediately following the incident. MSD and Corrections now have a process in place to share information and check suitablility of accommodation before any released offenders are placed.
External Review – led by KPMG
MSD also commissioned an external review through KPMG to ensure MSD’s policies, procedures and practices were robust and effective to mitigate any risks through the use of motels for emergency accommodation for released offenders.
The review compared the current state (at the time of the incident involving placement of the child sex offender) with a new business process recently put in place by MSD and Corrections. The findings show the changes already implemented have gone a long way to addressing risks associated with providing emergency housing to released offenders.
The review made five recommendations that provide further opportunities to support the implementation of MSD and Correction’s new business process. An eight week post implementation review of the business process is about to start. This will identify any improvements that can be made.
