Cracking down on offenders post-jail

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE POST-SENTENCE DETENTION AND SUPERVISION SCHEME FOR VIOLENT OFFENDERS:

- Post-sentence detention and supervision orders expanded to apply to violent criminals as well as serious sex offenders

- Establishment of a Public Protection Authority to provide independent, ongoing and rigorous oversight of eligible offenders from when they are first sent to prison

- A new 20-bed secure facility to house offenders too troublesome for existing "transitional" housing

- Improved accommodation options for intellectually disabled and mentally ill offenders

- Mandatory 12-month sentences for those who commit violent offences while in a residential facility

- Extended holding powers for police up from 10 to 72 hours

- Courts to issue emergency detention orders for periods of up to five days

- Committal proceeding scrapped for serious breaches of a supervision order

Sources: Advice on the legislative and governance models under the Serious Sex Offenders (Detention and Supervision) Act 2009 (Vic) (the Harper review); Victorian government legislation; and Victorian government press releases.