[2019] WASC 63
General information, not legal advice.
Supreme Court of WA
2019-03-05
Jenkins J
Original judgment source is linked above.
(1) If, on the hearing of an application under section 22, the court is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the person to whom the application relates has contravened ... a condition of a supervision order, the court must -
(a) rescind the supervision order and make a continuing detention order in relation to the person; or
(b) subject to subsection (1B), make an order amending the conditions of the supervision order, or extending the period for which the person is to be subject to the supervision order, or both; or
(c) subject to subsection (1B), make an order affirming the supervision order without amendment or extension.
...
(1B) A court cannot make an order under subsection (1)(b) or (c) or (1A)(b) unless it is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the person will substantially comply with the standard conditions or amended standard conditions of the supervision order.
(1C) The onus of proof as to the matter described in subsection (1B) is on the person to whom the application relates.
(2) In deciding which order to make under subsection (1) ... the paramount consideration is to be the need to ensure adequate protection of the community.
(a) report to a community corrections officer at the place, and within the time, stated in the order and advise the officer of the person's current name and address; and
(b) report to, and receive visits from, a community corrections officer as directed by the court; and
(c) notify a community corrections officer of every change of the person's name, place of residence, or place of employment at least 2 days before the change happens; and
(d) be under the supervision of a community corrections officer, which includes, comply with any reasonable direction of the officer (including a direction for the purposes of section 19A or 19B); and
(e) not leave, or stay out of, the State of Western Australia without the permission of a community corrections officer; and
(f) not commit a sexual offence as defined in the Evidence Act 1906 section 36A during the period of the order; and
(g) be subject to electronic monitoring under section 19A.
19A. Electronic monitoring
(1) The purpose of electronic monitoring of a person subject to a supervision order is to enable the location of the person to be monitored.
(2) For the purposes of the electronic monitoring of a person, a community corrections officer may -
(a) direct the person to wear an approved electronic monitoring device;
(b) direct the person to permit the installation of an approved electronic monitoring device at the place where the person resides or, if the person does not have a place of residence, at any other place specified by the community corrections officer;
(c) give any other reasonable direction to the person necessary for the proper administration of the electronic monitoring of the person.
approved means approved by the chief executive officer.
(4) A community corrections officer may suspend the electronic monitoring of a person subject to a supervision order -
(a) while satisfied that it is not practicable to subject the person to electronic monitoring; or
(b) while satisfied that it is not necessary for the person to be subject to electronic monitoring.
19B. Curfew
(1) The purpose of a curfew is to allow for the movements of a person subject to a supervision order to be restricted during periods when there is a risk of the person committing a serious sexual offence.
(2) The curfew is a requirement that the person must remain at a specified place, for specified periods, subject to subsection (5).
(3) In subsection (2) -
specified means specified by a community corrections officer from time to time.
(4) The person is not to be required by the curfew to remain at a place for periods that amount to less than 2 or more than 12 hours in any one day.
(5) The person may only leave the specified place during a specified period -
(a) to obtain urgent medical or dental treatment for the person; or
(b) for the purpose of averting or minimising a serious risk of death or injury to the person or to another person; or
(c) to obey an order issued under a written law (such as a summons) requiring the person's presence elsewhere; or
(d) for a purpose approved of by a community corrections officer; or
(e) at the direction of a community corrections officer.
(6) A community corrections officer may give any reasonable direction to the person necessary for the proper administration of the curfew requirement.
(7) Without limiting subsection (6), if the person is authorised under subsection (5) to leave the specified place, a community corrections officer may give directions as to -
(a) when the person may leave; and
(b) the period of the authorised absence; and
(c) when the person must return; and
(d) the route and method of travel to be used by the person during the absence; and
(e) the manner in which the person must report his or her whereabouts.
(1) Section 23(1C) effects a reversal of the burden of proof that ordinarily applies under the Act by virtue of s 40, which deems proceedings under the Act to be criminal proceedings.
(2) As the respondent has the legal burden of establishing that he will substantially comply with the standard conditions of the supervision order, he also has the evidential burden.
(3) However, in deciding whether the burden has been discharged, the court must have regard to all relevant and admissible evidence adduced in the proceedings.
(4) The evidence adduced by the applicant may form part or all of the evidence on which the respondent relies to establish that he will substantially comply. This is in a context in which statements made by a respondent to medical and other professionals are routinely taken into account in proceedings under the Act as evidence of the respondent's state of mind, including his attitudes, beliefs and intentions, without the need for the respondent to give direct evidence about such matters, by virtue of s 42(4), which modifies the ordinary rules of evidence which would otherwise apply.
(5) Therefore, it may not be necessary for the respondent to give evidence concerning his attitudes or intentions in order to prove that he would substantially comply with the standard conditions. The need for him to do so will depend on what other evidence there is from which the court can draw a conclusion about that issue [20].
The court must have regard to any other evidence, including evidence of developments in the respondent's circumstances since the contraventions occurred, which may inform the question of future compliance [21].
Respondent committed first serious sexual offence (SSO).
Committed in Kalgoorlie the day after his release from custody.
Breach of amended SO by drinking in park with females.
Breach of respondent's SO by consuming methamphetamine.
No more than four days on respondent's SO before breach.
Breach of respondent's SO by drinking alcohol at home.
Respondent sentenced for breach offences to nine months' imprisonment to commence on 16 May 2018.
Application for respondent to be declared a DSO
The risks and difficulties associated with the supervision of [the respondent] in the community are so great as to render the course unacceptable and impracticable, and at this stage, it has not been demonstrated that [the respondent] would respond to treatment in a community context [160].
(1) between 4 11 October 2016 - consumed or used cannabis and methamphetamine;
(2) between 11 19 October 2016 - consumed cannabis; and
(3) 21 October 2016 consumed or used amphetamine and methamphetamine.[24]
(1) 2 August 2016 - entered a shopping centre outside of the hours between which he was permitted to enter;
(2) 3 August 2016 - same kind of breach as on 2 August 2016;
(3) 18 August 2016 - left his designated residence before the time he was permitted to do so;
(4) 22 September 2016 - returned to his residence outside of his evening curfew;
(5) 10 October 2016 - failed to report for supervision; and
(6) 20 October 2016 - failed to respond to telephone calls made in response to an alert which indicated that the power level of the battery on his GPS transmitter was low.
(2) manage his desire for connection with his own people; and
(3) develop a 'healthy, prosocial sense of purpose and direction'.
Yes. So I think that would actually reduce his risk of breach as well as in the longer term reducing his risk of reoffending.[33]
(1) the respondent's then breach offences had come about because of the difficulties which the respondent had experienced in adjusting to life in metropolitan Perth and in particular to the loneliness and cultural isolation;
(2) the measures which had been put in place to monitor the respondent's conduct had worked in the sense that his contraventions were identified, he was apprehended and taken into custody without him committing a SSO;
(3) the prospect of the respondent reoffending imminently after release appeared to have diminished significantly;[35]
(4) he was not satisfied that the risk of the respondent committing a SSO was unacceptable;[36] and
(5) that the level of risk could be reduced to an acceptable level if the respondent was again released on a SO.
Evidence in the current contravention proceedings Psychiatric report - Dr Wynn Owen
[The respondent's] level of risk increases when he is intoxicated with alcohol or other substances. Management of this aspect of his risk will significant reduce his risk of committing a future [SSO].
I remain of the opinion that [the respondent's] reoffending risk can be managed in the community if an appropriate supervision, monitoring and support structure is in place.
he is a fish out of water in that in metropolitan Perth, as a regional Aboriginal man, he finds it very difficult to gain companionship or conversation, and that notwithstanding, I think, a degree of awareness of risk that he then makes the decision, which is probably poor judgment, to associate with people who are more like himself to get that companionship.[40]
(3) engaging in activities that are meaningful to him and which might allay stress; and
(4) talking to identified parties to address his problems.
(1) 'talk type' intervention appeared to have limited value as a standalone intervention;
(2) factors such as language and culture present as barriers to the efficacy of psychological intervention and inhibit the respondent's willingness to raise issues spontaneously;
(3) the respondent was able to understand concepts and respond to questions when presented in a familiar language; and
(4) counselling alone is unlikely to have any meaningful impact on the respondent overcoming loneliness and isolation.
(1) his engagement with Mr Summerton was positive, comfortable and trust had developed;
(2) he would talk to Mr Summerton if he had a problem in the community but he was unable to explain why he did not talk to him about how he was coping following his release in May 2018;
(3) when he committed the breach offences he had 'too much on [his] mind' in referring to the deaths of several family members;
(4) he was frustrated with his treatment on the SO, disappointed that his SSOs were still being discussed and that he wanted to 'move on with [his] life';
(5) it was unfair to deny his request to attend his mother's funeral in Warakurna;
(6) he felt 'caught' in the middle, as his family was upset at him and did not understand the prohibition;
(7) he does not talk to police as they would 'put more report on [him]' and that he only speaks to his lawyer;
(8) he feels that his CCO puts 'too much pressure on [him]' and that he felt like he was 'running around like a chook with no head on' when having to attend three appointments in one day;
(9) he was annoyed about the strict conditions of the SO particularly when he was questioned continuously about his whereabouts, who he was associating with and what he was doing;
(11) he initially avoided associating with people who drank alcohol in the park but said he got 'mad' at being around the house with no one to talk to;
(12) he refused alcohol in some instances but he relented after he was placed under pressure by people to drink;
(13) he does not drink alcohol often as he saw the consequences for others that usually led to violence;
(14) he knew he was not allowed to have women at his house and he denied having any sexual relations with a woman who was at his house on 16 May 2018; and
(15) he knew that he needed to obtain consent before initiating sexual intercourse with someone.[47]
(2) associating with family or friends who are drinking;
(6) feeling like others are 'dragging [him] this way and that'.
(3) pressure from some friends and community members to return to Warakurna.
Ongoing treatment considerations include rehearsal of behaviour risk management strategies specifically related to avoidance of substance use and antisocial peers and initiating sexual interactions with women, managing grief and cultural expectations, continuing to develop a sense of connectedness to his community and family, and developing goals in attaining an independent and pro-social lifestyle.
(1) The respondent received a total of 28 contact hours with UCW staff, with an average of two to three hours each day to assist him with daily living tasks.
(2) UCW had attempted to contact Wungening to facilitate a counselling appointment but the respondent informed UCW that he did not want to make contact at the time.
(3) A UCW mentor had attempted to make contact with the respondent but the respondent did not respond to these attempts. A mentoring session was eventually scheduled for 17 May 2018.[52]
Issue - Will the respondent substantially comply with the standard conditions of a SO?
(1) report to a CCO as directed and advise the officer of his current name and address;
(2) report to and receive visits from a CCO as directed;
(3) notify a CCO of any change in his name, place of residence or place of employment;
(4) not leave or stay out of Western Australia without the permission of a CCO; and
(5) be subject to electronic monitoring under s 19A.
(1) be under the supervision of a CCO and comply with any reasonable direction of the CCO; and
(1) drinking alcohol on 4 11 October 2016, 2 November 2017, 3 November 2017 and 16 May 2018;
(2) using cannabis on 4 11 October 2016 and 11 19 October 2016;
(3) consuming amphetamine and/or methamphetamine on 21 October 2016 and 9 11 May 2018; and
(4) breaching a CCO's direction not to attend a particular park on 4 November 2017.
(2) the Department of Justice is unable to confirm on weekends and public holidays that the respondent has attended the pharmacy and taken the medication;
(3) the best that can be done on weekends and public holidays is for the COMU electronic monitoring unit to monitor whether the respondent attends the geographical area of the pharmacy within a particular time frame and to report to a CCO if he does not do so;
(4) Dr Wynn Owen has reservations about ordering an aversion therapy such as Antabuse as part of a SO as it interferes with a doctor/patient relationship and raises the issue whether the respondent is truly voluntarily taking the medication or only agreeing to take it so as to be released; and
(5) Antabuse will not prevent the respondent from consuming other drugs such as amphetamine/methamphetamine and inhalants which would also increase his risk of committing a SSO.
Issue - Would an order amending, extending or affirming the respondent's SO ensure the adequate protection of the community?
(1) The Chief Justice initially came to that view in partial reliance on the fact that the respondent had the support of a partner. Regrettably, the respondent's partner has died and the respondent does not have a partner who could provide him with companionship and a stable consensual sexual relationship.
(2) If the respondent was released into the community it would have to be to live in the Perth suburban area because of the lack of support services in regional Western Australia. The respondent currently has no family or friends in the Perth suburban area.
(3) In order to socialise with people with whom he feels comfortable the respondent chooses to socialise with people who encourage him to drink alcohol and/or use illicit drugs. He is apparently unable or unwilling to resist their encouragement to do so even if it is in breach of the conditions of his SO.
(4) The respondent's risk of committing a SSO increases significantly when he breaches the conditions of his SO by drinking alcohol and/or using illicit substances. All attempts to stop him from doing so to date have failed. For the reasons given above I have concluded that making Antabuse a condition of a SO would not be appropriate.
(5) The Chief Justice was of the opinion that the risk of the respondent committing a SSO very soon after released had diminished. In light of the speed at which the respondent committed the breach offences after his release I do not accept this view to be correct. It is true that the respondent committed his second SSO the day after his release from prison and he has not offended in such a way on a SO. However that was only one occasion of offending. He committed other SSOs after longer periods in the community.
(6) In May 2018 the Chief Justice found that the then breach offences occurred because of the difficulties which the respondent had in adjusting to life in Perth, loneliness and cultural isolation. The first current breach offence occurred two to four days after the respondent's SO came into effect and the second breach offence occurred about nine days after it came into effect. The breach offences occurred while Ms Yun and others supervising the respondent were making efforts to ensure that the respondent was not overwhelmed by stress and while he was receiving considerable support from UCW. I do not accept that a build-up of the same stressors led to the breach offences. To this extent I do not accept the opinions of the witnesses who have proffered this as the reason for the breach offences.
(7) I do not accept that the resolution of issues of loneliness and cultural isolation will substantially reduce the respondent's risk of serious sexual offending or his breaches of a SO by drinking alcohol and consuming illicit substances. The reality is that the respondent's serious sexual offending and alcohol/substance abuse has occurred in regional Western Australia where the respondent was not lonely or culturally isolated. There must be other causes of his offending.
(8) The above issues together with others identified, such as unresolved grief and pressure from family to return to Warakurna, cannot currently be resolved as there is not a viable option of allowing the respondent to live anywhere other than Perth.
(9) The respondent told Dr Wynn Owen that he committed the breach offences to improve his mood and told Ms WilsonBrown that he used amphetamine because he thought that he was already in breach of the SO after having been given a warning for being late to an appointment. If these explanations reflect the reasons for his breach offences they indicate that the respondent cannot be relied on to comply with the conditions of a SO if it suits him not to do so. The explanations also show a lack of insight into his risk taking behaviour and impulsiveness which is incompatible with the protection of the community.
(10) The explanation regarding using drugs having received a warning letter is inconsistent with the facts that he received the warning letter on 14 May 2018 but had used the amphetamine/methamphetamine by 11 May 2018.
(11) The respondent has given other excuses for his breach offences. For example, in referring to the deaths of family members he said that he had too much on his mind. There is no evidence before me to indicate that these deaths occurred close in time to the breach offences in May 2018 and that he did not have enough meaningful activity even though he also said that he had too many appointments. It is my judgment that the respondent is to an extent making up excuses for his breach offences just like he has sought to minimise his more serious offending.
(12) Dr Wynn Owen is of the opinion that the respondent's risk of serious sexual offending can be adequately mitigated by supervision, monitoring and support whilst he is subject to a SO. For the reasons I have given above I am not satisfied that these supports will cause the respondent to comply with the conditions of a SO or adequately protect the community. In any event there is a fundamental problem. It is that during the period he was last in the community the respondent showed a reduced ability or interest in complying with the conditions of SO relating to the prohibition on drinking alcohol and using illicit substances. He also showed that he was prepared to engage in the high risk behaviour of having a woman in the privacy of his home when he was under the influence of alcohol. There is no utility in releasing the respondent on a SO in the almost certain knowledge that he will breach it soon after his release. He also did not take steps to help himself such as by engaging with a mentor or contacting Wungening about substance abuse counselling. For the community to be adequately protected by a SO the court must have at least a reasonable level of confidence that a DSO will comply with conditions and will make reasonable efforts to do so.
(13) Dr Wynn Owen said that an encouraging, interactive, supportive but assertive approach to supervision is required. I do not know what changes to the respondent's supervision regime could occur which would better meet these requirements. It seems to me that all reasonable steps have been taken by those supervising the respondent to assist him to comply with the conditions of a SO whilst at the same time ensuring the protection of the community.
I certify that the preceding paragraph(s) comprise the reasons for decision of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
[1] The Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006 (WA) s 3 defines DPP to mean the holder of the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1991 (WA). Section 7A provides that the DPP may make applications under the Act in the name of the State.
[2] The Act s 40A(1) creates an offence of breaching a SO without reasonable excuse.
[5] The State of Western Australia v Yates [2019] WASCSR 3.
[6] Neither party considers that the application turns on the distinction between the standard conditions and the amended standard conditions. Consequently I will from here refer to them as the standard conditions.
[8] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Hart [2019] WASC 4.
[9] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Hart [20].
[10] The State of Western Australia v Narrier [No 5] [2019] WASC 17.
[11] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [2014] WASC 136; Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 2] [2015] WASC 201; Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 3] [2016] WASC 213; Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 4] [2017] WASC 250; Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [2018] WASC 160.
[12] The respondent primarily inhaled petrol but he has also abuse other substances such as glue.
[13] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [2014] WASC 136 [51].
[14] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [2014] WASC 136 [78].
[15] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [2014] WASC 136 [141].
[16] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 2] [2].
[17] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 2] [77] [78].
[18] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 2] [69].
[19] At that time the Act stipulated that there had to be annual reviews of each CDO.
[20] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 3] [6].
[21] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 3] [18].
[22] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 3] [22].
[23] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 3] [119].
[24] These are dates of subsequent breaches are taken from the Chief Justice's published reasons. They are not wholly consistent with dates of offences on the respondent's criminal history but the differences are not material.
[25] These charges were prosecuted in the Magistrates Court.
[26] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 4] [33].
[27] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 4] [34].
[28] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 4] [41].
[29] The report dated 20 January 2018 was tendered in evidence in the current contravention proceedings as exhibit 2.
[30] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [26].
[31] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [28].
[32] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [20] [21].
[33] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [39].
[34] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [56].
[35] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [85].
[36] The Act then provided that the court could only make a CDO if it was satisfied that there was an unacceptable risk that if a CDO was not made the respondent would commit a SSO.
[37] Dated 3 September 2018 pursuant to the Act s 37.
[41] Dated 27 September 2018. To be read in conjunction with the Contravention Review Report of 3 September 2018.
[42] Including sweating, headache, dyspnoea, flushing, breathlessness, palpitations, nausea and vomiting.
[43] Exhibit 1, 93. The report also contains and draws upon an interview with Mr Summerton, senior counselling psychologist on 10 August 2018, the perusal of file information, counselling case notes, Total Offender Management Solution (TOMS), prior professional assessments and the Book of Materials (exhibit 1).
[45] This may refer to him being late for his appointment with Mr Summerton and/or Ms Yun.
[46] Ms WilsonBrown reported that this assertion is factually incorrect as the respondent tested positive to an amphetamine sample taken on 11 May 2018 (whereas the respondent referred to the incident occurring on the 14 May 2018).
[47] He explained this as being when it is okay to have sexual intercourse with someone. When asked about consent, the respondent said he could not think properly as 'too many people ha[d] passed away' but when asked he said he cannot have sex with a woman who is drunk.
[50] Exhibit 1, 100 dated 6 September 2018.
[52] This would not have occurred as the respondent was in custody from 16 May 2018.
[53] Phone counselling sessions were reported to have occurred on 21 June 2018, 12 July 2018, 9 August 2018, 16 August 2018, 23 August 2018 and 31 August 2018 with another appointment was reported to be scheduled for 7 September 2018.
[54] Occurring 28 May 2018, 15 June 2018, 30 June 2018, 11 July 2018, 20 July 2018, 30 July 2018, 21 August 2018 and 3 September 2018.
[5]2 Ms Cassam confirmed that no current accommodation was available. Properties for single occupants are rare to come by and Noongar Mia has not housed a single occupant for over 18 months. Ms Cassam stated that there had been no new information regarding accommodation availability in regional Western Australia or Kalgoorlie.
[55] Exhibit 3. The disk footage contained material showing the respondent in a park on 4 November 2017. This footage was referred to previously in Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [10] [13], [28] [29].
[57] Ms Cassam further explained that UCW were not available on weekends and would not be able to guarantee to see the respondent on a daily basis. Ms Cassam stated that UCW have firmly stated their view that they perform the role of reintegration support only.
[59] Ms Yun's report was indorsed by herself, Kara Cassam and James Hosie.
[61] During his most recent period in the community the respondent did not cooperate with attempts to connect him to a mentor.