Parole Board of Tasmania reveals why it will release murderer and rapist Jamie John Curtis this week

The Parole Board has revealed the reasons behind its decision to release notorious murderer and rapist Jamie John Curtis, who will walk out of Risdon Prison this week.

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TASMANIA’s Parole Board has revealed the reasons behind its decision to release notorious murderer and rapist Jamie John Curtis, who will walk out of Risdon Prison a free man on Wednesday.

Widely regarded as one of the state’s worst criminals, Curtis is expected to return to work at a butcher’s shop, where he was employed when he was last paroled in 2018, and continue a relationship with a woman he met at the time.

Earlier this month, news broke that Curtis – who in 1986 stabbed Glenorchy man Dean Allie to death, brutally and repeatedly raped his fiancee Tameka Ridgeway, and abducted a 15-year-old schoolgirl during a horror 12-hour rampage – would be granted parole despite his victim’s fears he would strike again.

On Monday, the Parole Board of Tasmania published its reasons, setting out in black and white why Curtis will be emancipated this week, albeit subject to parole “for life”.

The board, noting Curtis had been described as suffering “psychopathic traits” and that his crimes were a “worst-type case”, said he was employed as a wardsman within the prison.

Curtis, now in his mid-60s, was described as “polite” and “respectful” in jail and had attained medium security classification.

The board said he would return to his former job.

“It is reported that the applicant is a highly regarded employee and on release will be offered similar responsibility and full-time hours,” it said.

Last week, Ms Ridgeway told the Sunday Tasmanian she was “very frustrated, let down and angry” by the decision, saying it wasn’t a matter if Curtis reoffended, but a question of to what extreme.

The board said it was aware Curtis’ victims expressed “a profound fear of the applicant being released and encountering him in the community” – mentioning that one victim appeared in person at a parole board hearing.

It said while it “carefully considered” the victims’ views, there were “protective factors” in place to prevent Curtis from reoffending including “therapeutic management” and the fact he’d arranged “suitable and supportive” accommodation.

The decision also revealed more detail about Curtis’ previous parole period, noting he was locked up for breaching his Community Protection Order.

Mugshot of Jamie John Curtis.

He returned to Risdon as a minimum security prisoner but due to an internal offence in May 2019 – phoning his partner through the prison phone system, in violation of a restraining order – he “was regressed to a maximum security classification”.

A lack of suitable accommodation outside jail plus his “apparent disregard for the level of compliance required” led to the board rejecting a further parole bid in September 2019.

However, it now found Curtis had “continued to work on his attitude and behaviour as recommended” and was suitable for reintegration into the community with ongoing support and counselling and “a very high level of supervision”.

The board paroled Curtis for life as of January 27, subjecting him to electronic monitoring, and ordering he not approach or contact registered victims or enter a designated area of Tasmania.

Greg Barns SC, chair of Prisoners Legal Service Tasmania, said the Parole Board’s decision was “careful, considered and balanced”.

“Prisoners must be given an incentive to rehabilitate,” he said.

“It is important to note he is not released into the community without constant supervision, because his parole lasts for the rest of his life.”

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