Criminals walk free under Labor’s soft-on-crime home detention

A record number of criminals are being let out of prison after serving as little as two-thirds of the minimum sentence imposed by the courts under Labor’s soft-on-crime home detention policy.

Figures recently released by the Adult Parole Board show that the number of home detentions ordered behind closed doors reached a record level of 83 in 2008/09, up from 57 in 2004/05, and a total of 425 prisoners have been released by the Adult Parole Board since 2004.

“Something is wrong when more and more convicted criminals are being released into the community even though a court has ordered that they should be behind bars,” Shadow Attorney-General Robert Clark said today.

“With record levels of violent crime and growing contempt for police and the law by street thugs, this soft-on-crime approach from the Brumby Government is the last thing Victoria needs,” Mr Clark said.

“While Labor claims the scheme is only for non-violent offenders, some offenders can be released on home detention after having committed crimes including armed robbery, aggravated burglary or intentionally or recklessly causing injury.

Drug addicts who have repeatedly committed burglaries to support their addiction are also eligible for early release.

Almost three times as many convicted criminals are being released by order of the Adult Parole Board as are being sentenced to home detention by a court.

“If a person is to be sentenced to home detention, that should be a decision by a court, made in the open and subject to appeal,” Mr Clark said.

“It should not be decided behind closed doors, or contrary to what a court has ordered.

“The government claims that home detention is to allow offenders to maintain employment, family and community ties, but that is what parole is meant to be for – when an offender is released from jail after serving the minimum sentence, but before serving the maximum sentence.

“Home detention is not an excuse for releasing offenders before they’ve even served the minimum sentence ordered by the court,” Mr Clark said.