Consideration of s.9(3) Criteria
14 In determining whether or not to make an extended supervision order, the Court is required to have regard to the statutory factors contained in s.9(3) of the Act. The Court may take as a starting point the findings made by Bell J in June 2007. Those findings warranted the making of a continuing detention order for 12 months. It is not necessary to repeat the factual matters disclosed in her Honour's detailed findings. Rather, I will concentrate on the evidence concerning events since June 2007.
15 Reference will be made to the s.9(3) factors out of their statutory order, but in a sequence which assists an understanding of the issues.
16 Section 9(3)(h) requires the Court to have regard to the Defendant's criminal history and any pattern of offending behaviour disclosed by that history. The Defendant's criminal record contains sexual offences for which he was sentenced in 1977, 1984, 1985, 1990 and 1998. That history, and the nature of his offences, was summarised in the judgment of Bell J at [38]-[54]. It is not necessary to elaborate upon these matters for the purpose of determining the present application. A report dated 24 September 2008 of Dr Anthony Samuels, Psychiatrist, observes that the Defendant's record of sex offences demonstrates a versatility in his offending in terms of the range of victims and the range of offending behaviour.
17 Section 9(3)(d) requires the Court to have regard to the results of any statistical or other assessment as to the likelihood of persons with histories and characteristics similar to those of the Defendant committing a further serious sex offence. In a report dated 23 May 2008, Kate Harle, a Psychologist with the Department of Corrective Services, recorded a score of eight out of 10 for the Defendant on the Static-99 actuarial risk assessment instrument. That score places the Defendant in the high-risk category relative to other adult male sexual offenders.
18 Section 9(3)(b) requires the Court to have regard to reports received from the psychiatrists appointed under s.7(4) to conduct examinations of the Defendant, and the level of the Defendant's participation in such examinations.
19 Professor David Greenberg prepared a report dated 13 May 2007 which was before Bell J at the 2007 hearing (see [106]-[116] of Bell J's judgment). Her Honour, at [179]-[180], placed particular weight on the opinion of Professor Greenberg that there was no treatment available in the community at that time that was suitable to address the Defendant's long-standing sexual offending behaviour. Bell J concluded at [193]:
"In light of the defendant's history and taking into account Professor Greenberg's evidence that I have set out at [180] above, I am satisfied to a high degree of probability not only that the defendant is likely to commit a further serious sex offence if he is not kept under supervision, but also that adequate supervision will not be provided by an extended supervision order."
20 With respect to the duration of the continuing detention order to be set on 18 June 2007, Bell J said at [195]:
"A continuing detention order has dire consequences for the defendant. It is made because of the need to protect the community. The defendant's unwillingness to undertake the CUBIT program has been for reasons which include, on the estimate of each of the independent psychiatrists, include some measure of anticipated psychological discomfort arising out of his own assault in custody many years ago. It may be that this can be overcome and that he is able to undertake the CUBIT program with appropriate support from staff within the DCS. In this event, his continued detention after completion of the program may not be justified. It is troubling that at the present time no suitable treatment is available in the community. Given that the defendant is willing to engage in some form of treatment, his detention pursuant to the Act should not extend beyond 12 months without further order of the Court."
21 On 11 April 2008, the Defendant consented to an order extending the continuing detention order for a period of four-and-a-half months until 31 October 2008. The extension of the order permitted the Defendant to complete the CUBIT program whilst in detention.
22 In his report of 24 November 2008, Professor Greenberg recounted the Defendant's progress since the continuing detention order was made in June 2007, including his completion of the CUBIT program and the PREP program. By reference to the Static-99 actuarial risk assessment instrument, Professor Greenberg observed that the Defendant remained in the high-risk category group (page 9). With regard to dynamic risk factors which are amenable to change in a therapeutic process, Professor Greenberg observed that the Defendant appeared to have made some gains (page 9). With regard to the Defendant's acute dynamic factors, Professor Greenberg observed that he seemed more aware of the role of alcohol and illicit substances in his offending behaviour and seemed accepting of supervision with regard to future placement in the community (page 9).
23 Professor Greenberg considered that the Defendant had some awareness of the cognitive dynamic risk factors with regard to future recidivism however it remained "uncertain at this time whether he can actually act accordingly whilst living in the community" and the "question of whether he can use this improved cognitive knowledge to change his past pattern of ingrained and persistent offending behaviour remains uncertain at this time" (page 9).
24 Professor Greenberg expressed the opinion that the Defendant's primary diagnosis was that of anti-social personality disorder associated with polysubstance abuse/dependence. He observed that the literature suggests that it is extremely difficult for individuals with a severe anti-social personality disorder to change behaviour because, by the very nature of the disorder, these patterns are ingrained and maladaptive and form an entrenched pattern of behaviour (page 10).
25 Professor Greenberg referred to a progression from conduct disorder in the Defendant's childhood to anti-social behaviour in his adulthood, which had led to a pattern of anti-social behaviour which had "became ingrained into his psyche". According to Professor Greenberg, the Defendant's participation in the custodial psychological intervention program over the past 12 months should be seen as an initial stage in his progression of a therapeutic process. He considered that the Defendant's progress should be seen as a medium-to-long term, rather than a short-term process. Professor Greenberg observed (page 10):
"His prognosis remains guarded at this time, but with the passage of time, this prognosis could be reviewed provided he abstain from drugs and alcohol, abide by all his intervention and management conditions, develop further insights into his maladaptive behaviours and develop new ways of acting appropriately based on this new improved level of insight."
26 Professor Greenberg concluded that the Defendant remains in the higher-risk category group with regard to future sexual offending behaviour. He expressed the view that, without supervision, care and treatment whilst the Defendant is living in the community, his risk of re-offending would be significantly heightened.
27 By reference to the statutory formula in s.9(2) of the Act, Professor Greenberg expressed the view that the Defendant is likely to commit a further serious sex offence if released into the community and not kept under supervision (page 11).
28 With respect to duration of an extended supervision order, Professor Greenberg concluded (page 11):
"Should the court grant an extension of the supervision order, I am of the view that, the order should be of medium to long term duration given his primary diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder. I am of the view that a term of up to 5 years would not be an excessive period of time in order to monitor Mr Tillman's progress with his therapeutic program, compliance with supervision, rehabilitation and integration back into the general community, and for his prognosis to be re-evaluated."
29 Dr Stephen Allnutt provided a report for the purpose of the 2007 hearing and his evidence was referred to in the judgment of Bell J. Pursuant to the order under s.7(4) of the Act, Dr Allnutt furnished a further report dated 26 November 2008 (Exhibit B). He observed that there had been changes in the Defendant's clinical and dynamic risk profile (page 9). There appeared to have been improved motivation to pursue a treatment program with the Defendant completing CUBIT, there was no evidence of rule violation since the Defendant had been involved in the treatment program and there appears to have been amelioration in attitudes and values that might justify sexual offending (page 9). The Defendant appears to be more accepting of responsibility for his offending and more capable of discussing the factors surrounding his offending. He acknowledges that the use of alcohol as a coping mechanism is inadvisable.
30 Dr Allnutt noted that the Defendant appears to have overcome his reluctance to engage in a treatment program and had completed CUBIT and he had expressed motivation to pursue a further treatment program which is "positive and promising" (page 10).
31 Dr Allnutt observed that the Defendant continues to fall into the high-risk group compared to other sex offenders by reference to the Static-99 actuarial instrument. Dr Allnutt noted that there appears to have been an apparent reduction in the Defendant's dynamic risk profile so that there is evidence that he manifests, at this stage, better potential to manage his high static risk and that his shorter-term risk is potentially reduced. However, as the Defendant had only recently been released from 10 years' incarceration, he has not yet been exposed to triggers that might result in deterioration in his behaviour (page 10).
32 With respect to the duration of any order, Dr Allnutt said (page 10):
"I understand that an order for 5 years is currently being considered. His history of offending and current risk profile suggests that his risk for future sexual offending remains high in the longer rather than shorter term, if not kept under a supervision order. It is difficult to predict the duration that supervision would be required because there are many unpredictable contingencies that can intervene that might impact on his risk profile; and predictably this would also depend on how well he integrates into the community and provides evidence for improved internal capacity to manage his own risk, in the absence [of] external restriction. Thus it would be prudent to set the duration at 5 years (I believe he has the option of making earlier application)."
33 Section 9(3)(c) requires the Court to consider the results of any other assessment prepared by a qualified psychiatrist, registered psychologist or registered medical practitioner as to the likelihood of the Defendant committing a further serious sex offence, the willingness of the Defendant to participate in any such assessment and the level of his participation in any such assessment. A number of reports prepared by psychiatrists and psychologists concerning the Defendant have assessed such matters.
34 For present purposes, it is sufficient to note that previous reports have recorded conclusions that the Defendant is likely to commit a further serious sex offence if he is not provided with adequate ongoing maintenance, support, supervision and treatment, including ongoing psychological treatment. Dr Samuels expressed the view that, bearing in mind that the Defendant's history of offending indicates that he is an opportunistic offender, the key to managing him in the community is to minimise wherever possible such opportunities and to minimise the likelihood of relapse of substance misuse. In a report dated 11 April 2008, Mr Rodriguez and Dr Ellis considered that the Defendant would benefit from ongoing treatment of his post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, which would include anti-depressant medication and traditional psychological-based treatment.
35 A report of the Rev Dr Peter Powell, Psychologist, dated 27 November 2008, which was tendered by the Defendant, agrees with the assessment of Professor Greenberg in the report of 24 November 2008.
36 Section 9(3)(e) requires the Court to consider any treatment or rehabilitation programs in which the Defendant has had an opportunity to participate, the Defendant's willingness to participate in such programs and the level of his participation in such programs. The Defendant agreed to an extension of the continuing detention order under the Act to allow him to complete the CUBIT program whilst in custody. In a memorandum dated 10 October 2008, Ms Joanne Senior, Specialist Psychologist with CUBIT, noted that the Defendant had been participating satisfactorily in the program, with good general motivation and involvement in group sessions.
37 A report dated 20 October 2008 of Ms Anna Hoy, Forensic Psychologist, provides a detailed assessment of the Defendant's progress in the CUBIT program, which he undertook between 30 January 2008 and 17 October 2008.
38 Ms Hoy records that, following implementation of the continuing detention order on 18 June 2007, the Defendant took positive steps towards receiving treatment. He attended regular meetings with a psychologist and maintained contact with the Department of Corrective Services Aboriginal Special Projects Officer. He also attended the PREP Pre-Treatment Program for about three months before entering the CUBIT program in January 2008.
39 In addition to the CUBIT program, the Defendant completed the Getting SMART Recovery Program (self-management and recovery training), a program to assist individuals in gaining independence from any addictive behaviour, substances or activities.
40 Section 9(3)(f) requires the Court to consider the level of the Defendant's compliance with any obligations to which he has been subject whilst on release on parole or whilst subject to an earlier extended supervision order. Bell J, at [182], described the Defendant's past record of compliance with parole as poor.
41 There has been no suggestion of non-compliance with any obligations to which the Defendant has been subject since his release on an interim supervision order on 31 October 2008.
42 Section 9(3)(a) requires the Court to have regard to the safety of the community. All of the matters to which reference has already been made bear upon the safety of the community.