Parole bans get personal

QUEENSLAND criminals could be banned from seeing their mates and hanging out at their favourite pubs upon their release from jail, as part of a radical shake-up of the state’s parole system.

In an Australian-first, every Queensland criminal who becomes eligible for parole will have their life assessed by authorities. In most cases, offenders will be ordered to avoid certain people and locations held dear to them.

A secret trial of this method was undertaken at one southeast Queensland probation and parole office last year, and it reduced reoffending rates by almost 30 per cent.

Previously, the parole board simply put “blanket” restrictions on all parolees by implementing curfews or curbing their access to alcohol, regardless of their crimes.

In Queensland, it is estimated that 50 per cent of criminals reoffend within two years of their release from jail.