[2011] WASC 130
General information, not legal advice.
Supreme Court of WA
2011-05-19
McKechnie J
Original judgment source is linked above.
1 COMMISSIONER SLEIGHT: This is an application for the second annual review of a continuing detention order made against the respondent Mr Dinah, under the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006 (WA) (the Act). On 23 April 2009, McKechnie J concluded that Mr Dinah was an unacceptable risk to the community if he was not subject to a continuing detention order or a supervision order. Further, his Honour concluded that a supervision order would not adequately protect the community and made an order for Mr Dinah to be held in custody for an indefinite term (a continuing detention order). Under pt 3 of the Act the continuing detention order is to be subject to an annual review. The first such review occurred on 30 April 2010 before McKechnie J. His Honour made an order that the detention order continue for another year.
2 For the purposes of this second annual review, a book of material has been tendered by consent. This material includes:
3 On the application for review of a continuing detention order, the court must rescind the order if it does not find that the person subject to the order remains 'a serious danger to the community': s 33(1) of the Act.
4 Whether a person remains a serious danger to the community requires a consideration of the criteria set out in s 7 of the Act. The relevant provisions and principles were summarised in my decision in Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v TJD [2011] WASC 83. It is unnecessary that I repeat them.
5 It is not disputed in this matter that Mr Dinah remains a serious danger to the community. Notwithstanding this concession, it is still necessary for me to examine the evidence and make that finding.
6 Section 32 of the Act provides that on a review that unless the court orders otherwise the chief executive officer is required to arrange two psychiatrists to review Mr Dinah and two psychiatric reports made available to the court. Only one psychiatric report has been prepared, being a report of Dr G Wojnarowska dated 24 April 2011. However, in view of the psychological report and other reports that have been tendered, I conclude that this one psychiatric report is adequate. Accordingly, I order pursuant to s 32 of the Act that only one psychiatric report is required.
7 As mentioned above, on 23 April 2009 McKechnie J found that Mr Dinah was an unacceptable risk to the community and made a continuing detention order. I have considered the evidence before McKechnie J on that application, including two psychiatric reports - a report of Dr Wojnarowska dated 5 April 2009 and a report of Dr Adam Bretts dated 6 April 2009.
8 Mr Dinah's record of convictions include the following convictions and penalties for sexual offences:
9 On each of the occasions of sexual offending the victim was a female known to Mr Dinah. The offending was associated generally with violence and psychological coercion. Alcohol was consistently involved.
10 The psychiatric reports concluded Mr Dinah was a high risk of reoffending. Mr Dinah was found to have previous and ongoing attitudes that supported sexual violence.
11 Based upon the further material tendered in support of this annual review, I conclude that Mr Dinah has made some progress in rehabilitation. Details of the changes will be presented later in this decision. However, notwithstanding these changes, I am satisfied, applying the criteria of the Act, that Mr Dinah remains a serious danger to the community.
12 Under s 33(2) of the Act the court may on an annual review, if it finds that the person remains a serious danger to the community, either decline to rescind the continuing detention order or rescind the order and make a supervision order. In making this decision the paramount consideration is the need to ensure adequate protection of the community: s 33(3) of the Act.
13 Based upon the material before me I concluded that since the original detention order and the first annual review there has been progress made by Mr Dinah largely in the form of an attitudinal change, which, although perhaps not substantial, is significant. As result of these changes the applicant no longer opposes a community supervision order being made. Of course, although the applicant does not oppose such an order being made, I need to be satisfied that by the making of the order there is adequate protection of the community.
14 Mr Dinah made minimal progress after he completed a Pathways treatment programme on 19 February 2010. In the report dated 4 March 2010 it states that Mr Dinah demonstrated limited treatment gains in relation to responsibility taking, coping/emotional regulation, problem solving, conflict resolution and relationship issues. It was recommended that Mr Dinah complete a Sex Offender Intensive Programme and repeat a Pathways programme.
15 Mr Dinah completed a Sex Offender Intensive Programme on 16 December 2010. In a report dated 6 February 2011 it was concluded:
He is considered to have made moderate treatment gains given the challenges that such a process obviously posed for him. He made some shifts in terms of acceptance for responsibility, but there remains considerable evidence of minimisation. He has been assessed as a high risk of reoffending and clearly management of risk remains a significant challenge for him and those responsible for his supervision. However, he is considered to be more amenable to supervision than has been the case during his previous periods in the community.
16 A report of Dr Wojnarowska dated 24 April 2011 noted that Mr Dinah's last 12 months' imprisonment were 'incident free' and noted the positive aspects of the report of the Sex Offender Intensive Programme. Dr Wojnarowska concluded:
Mr Dinah's treatment gains, although not perceived as major, had been more significant than expected given his previous attitude and personality structure. His risk of reoffending remains high but the positive change in his manageability have been a significant negotiating factor.
17 The report goes on to state Mr Dinah has achieved his potential and his risk of reoffending is not likely to be alleviated with continuous detention. The report concludes with a recommendation that a supervision order be considered. Dr Wojnarowska expresses the opinion that further detention may result in loss of gains and institutionalisation.
18 In a further treatment progress report prepared by psychologists Ms Joanne Collyer and Ms Wendy Wager dated 28 April 2011 the following conclusion was reached:
It is clear that in addition to therapeutic intervention, structured case management and clear and repeated discussions regarding the behaviour expected of him and the consequences should he fail to do so will be required. It is the authors opinion that a further custodial group programme is unlikely to yield additional treatment gains, and may even be counter productive. Although Mr Dinah would be unlikely to benefit from a programme in custody due to the personality features and noted attitudinal issues of Mr Dinah regarding this, a community based programme would likely to be viewed by Mr Dinah more positively. Mr Dinah, is likely to be less resistant to a community based programme and thus would likely benefit from the support and content of a programme such as the maintenance programme, that can incorporate topics specifically tailored to his treatment needs. Individual counselling could be provided in either a custodial or community setting. The duration and extent of such counselling will be determined by Mr Dinah's identified need and motivation.
19 A community supervision assessment report dated 29 April 2011 confirmed that Mr Dinah since the last annual review had satisfactorily completed the Sex Offender Intensive Programme, developed an individual management plan (to reduce the risk of a sexual offending relapse) and generally demonstrated satisfactory prison conduct. Also, Mr Dinah had engaged with the dangerous sexual offenders' psychologist and with a prison based addictions counsellor.
20 On the basis of the above evidence I am satisfied that further progress is likely to be made in Mr Dinah's management by a community supervision order being made. The danger of a continuing detention order is that there could be a deterioration in Mr Dinah's condition and he may become institutionalised. I am satisfied that the community can be adequately protected by a strict supervision order.
21 Accordingly, I conclude that a supervision order should be made. The continuing detention order of the 23 April 2009 will be rescinded and replaced with a supervision order for a period of 5 years. I conclude the order should be for this period of time given the entrenched nature of Mr Dinah's offending predictors. The terms of the order will require compliance with strict conditions. The terms of the order are attached to this decision as Annexure A.
IN THE MATTER of Part 3 of the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006
The Court, having found pursuant to section 33(2)(b) of the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006 (WA) that the Respondent remains a serious danger to the community, rescinds the continuing detention order and orders that the Respondent be the subject of a supervision order for a period of five (5) years, on the following conditions:
i. to obtain urgent medical or dental treatment for the respondent;
iv. for a purpose, and for a duration, approved of in advance by a CCO; or
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