The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to create a safer New South Wales and increase protections for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, with the commencement of electronic monitoring for alleged serious domestic violence offenders released on bail.
Earlier this year, the Government significantly tightened bail laws for people charged with serious domestic violence offences, forcing them to 'show cause' why they shouldn't be detained. This change has made it harder than ever for alleged serious domestic violence offenders to get bail.
From today, any alleged serious domestic violence offender who is granted bail will be electronically monitored around the clock using GPS technology.
The new program allows Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) to track alleged offenders against geographic bail conditions.
These exclusion zones may include residential addresses, school and work locations, or suburbs or areas within a city for people in need of protection.
If an alleged offender enters a restricted zone, CSNSW's electronic monitoring officers are immediately notified.
Corrections officers will contact NSW Police to advise that a potential breach of bail conditions has occurred and NSW Police can then respond.
This builds on the around-the-clock monitoring of certain offenders already conducted by Corrective Services NSW, including the monitoring of high-risk domestic violence perpetrators on parole orders or Intensive Correction Orders.
These tough new laws are one part of the NSW Government's work to strengthen protections for victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence.
The Government has also introduced legislation to create Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders. These new orders will allow the court to impose any conditions considered appropriate to prevent a person's involvement in domestic abuse.
In addition, this legislation would create new offences covering repeated and intentional breaches of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders.
Under earlier Minns Labor Government justice system reforms:
- The categories of offences for which bail decisions can be 'stayed' were expanded, with the accused remaining in custody while prosecutors challenge the decision to grant bail.
- For all domestic violence bail decisions, judges and magistrates must now consider, where relevant, domestic abuse risk factors and the views of victims and their family members.
- All bail decisions will be made by judges and magistrates.
The NSW Government delivered a $246 million package in the NSW Budget to address domestic, family and sexual violence through crisis response measures, early intervention, primary prevention, and justice system responses.
