Review of the extension of the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW)

In 2016-17, the Department of Justice conducted a review of the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006, including the amendments made in 2013.

The Act provides for the extended supervision and continuing detention of the most dangerous sex and violent offenders to ensure the safety and protection of the community and encourages offenders to undertake rehabilitation.

The requirement for review is set out in the Act and aims to determine whether the 2013 amendments remain valid and appropriate. The scope of the review was subsequently extended by the former Attorney General Gabrielle Upton (April 2015 – February 2017), to consider the Act in its entirety.

The Act can be viewed at Legislation NSW website.

Review report

On 9 May 2017 the Attorney General tabled the statutory review in NSW Parliament. The report concluded that the objects of the Act remain valid and made 28 recommendations to improve frameworks governing the extended supervision or continuing detention of high risk sex and violent offenders who have completed a sentence of imprisonment.

Report on the Review of the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006

Changes to the Act

Under new reforms to the criminal justice system announced by the NSW Government in May 2017, changes to the Act are intended to be introduced in Parliament in late 2017.

The changes implement the recommendations of the Review Report and will better protect the community from the most dangerous sex and violent offenders who pose a risk of committing further serious sex or violent crimes at the end of their sentences.

Read more about the high risk offender management reform 

Submissions

The Department of Justice conducted a round of public consultation in 2016 inviting submissions to inform the review from individuals and organisations.

Submissions received

• Aboriginal Legal Services [PDF, 201kb] (PDF, 194.4 KB)
  
• Director of Public Prosecutions [PDF, 163kb] (PDF, 160.6 KB)
• Enough is Enough [PDF, 141kb] (PDF, 126.6 KB)
• Law Society NSW [PDF, 762kb] (PDF, 759.8 KB)
• Legal Aid NSW [PDF, 203kb] (PDF, 877.0 KB)
• NSW Bar Association [PDF, 203kb] (PDF, 1.2 MB)
• Rule of Law Institute of Australia [PDF, 153kb] (PDF, 150.4 KB)

For any general enquiries in relation to the review contact us on policy@justice.nsw.gov.au or 02 8346 1860.