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Wilson: Most offenders comply with probation

Only a “handful” of people frequently breach their probation or parole, Attorney General Kim Wilson told the Senate yesterday.Just four individuals were found to have been non-compliant on multiple occasions when police checked on them as part of Operation Nightlight, she said.The Operation, which was launched in December, is a collaboration between Court Services and police and allows officers make night calls on offenders to check for breaches of probation and parole orders.So far the programme has resulted in 102 curfew checks, Sen Wilson said.“Of these, 62 confirmed compliance, 26 positioned noncompliance and 14 were unconfirmed,” she said, adding that some of the confirmed visits were due to incomplete addresses being given.“Of the noncompliant clients, four individuals were noncompliant on multiple occasions,” Sen Wilson said. “This highlights that generally there are merely a handful of individuals who deviate.”One drug treatment court client had been brought back into line after a Magistrate’s warning, she said, while one paroled offender was recalled to the Co-Ed Facility for a violation.“From the Probation Team, one probationer was breached, and is currently remanded in custody pending sentencing,” Sen Wilson added. “The final client remains AWOL. However, the Magistrate has issued a bench warrant for their arrest.”Sen Wilson said in-house training of Corrections staff would be increased over the coming financial year.Of growing concern, she said, was “the psychological and emotional state of young offenders who come into our care”.She said: “The complexity of these cases has presented challenges for staff at the Co-Ed Facility. to counteract this issue, specific training has been provided to staff on the management of young offenders, and efforts have begun to revise the regime for the young offenders.”