Crackdown on Victoria’s most evil criminals includes new prison units, lock-up without charge laws
THE state’s most dangerous criminals could be dragged off the street and locked up without charge under unprecedented laws, with the crackdown including a new prison unit to house those deemed unfit for release at the end of jail terms.
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VICTORIA’S most dangerous criminals could be dragged off the streets and jailed for seven days without charge under unprecedented laws.
The new emergency powers will form part of a $390 million overhaul of the handling of Victoria’s highest-risk offenders.
The crackdown also includes the creation of two new prison units: one for those deemed unfit for release at the end of their jail terms and the other for inmates posing a security or safety threat within the corrections system.
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Candidates for the new units are expected to include notorious killer Sean Price, Hoddle St gunman Julian Knight and Jill Meagher’s killer, Adrian Bayley.
Prisoners convicted of crimes including murder, manslaughter, child homicide and a range of serious violent offences could be put on supervision orders similar to those now applying to sex fiends.
Those on extended supervision orders could also be arrested under new Emergency Detention Orders allowing for dangerous offenders posing an “imminent risk” to be locked up for a week.
Ominous behaviour could determine whether EDOs are used; the criminals would not necessarily need to have broken the law or to have breached the conditions of their release.
The EDO provisions are among reforms following the 2015 murder of Masa Vukotic, 17. She was fatally stabbed by Price, who was on an extended supervision order following his release from prison.
The murder, and a rape he committed next day, led to a review by former Supreme Court judge David Harper which identified failings in the system.
Emergency Detention Orders could also be applied to those convicted of intentionally or recklessly causing serious injury, kidnapping, and arson causing death.
Corrections Minister Gayle Tierney said that for the first time the law would allow for serious violent offenders to be detained or supervised beyond their jail terms. Such a system has been in place for sex offenders for years.
Persons not detained under the order could be subjected to electronic monitoring, curfews, no-go zones, and strict reporting requirements.
“We promised we would do everything we could to fix the system and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Ms Tierney said.
“Expanding the post-sentence scheme will help keep Victoria safe,” the minister said.
Former chief magistrate and state coroner Ian Gray will chair a Post-Sentence Authority, which will oversee the new regime.
The Harper Review made 35 recommendations which the Andrews Government have adopted.
Details of a new prison for violent criminals who are found to require incarceration after their jail terms have ended will also be revealed on Tuesday.
The 20-bed complex, under construction in Ararat, next to the Hopkins Correctional Centre, will provide “intensive treatment and interventions” for offenders on supervision orders.
A 40-bed unit at Barwon Prison is being built in response to the increased numbers of people being jailed for terrorism and organised crime.
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