Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006

 

Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006

CONTENTS

Part 1 — Preliminary

1.Short title2

2.Commencement2

3.Terms used in this Act2

4.Objects of this Act3

5.Application of Bail Act 19823

6.Attorney General may perform functions of DPP4

7.Serious danger to the community4

Part 2 — Continuing detention or supervision

Division 1 — Application for orders

8.DPP may apply for orders6

9.Duty to disclose7

10.Application may proceed even if offender discharged7

11.Fixing day for preliminary hearing7

12.Offender may file affidavits in response8

13.Contents of affidavit8

14.Preliminary hearing8

15.Authority for psychiatrist to examine offender9

16.Discontinuing application for Division 2 order9

Division 2 — Orders

17.Division 2 orders9

18.Conditions of supervision order10

19A.Electronic monitoring11

19B.Curfew12

19C.Enforcement of electronic monitoring and curfew requirement13

Division 3 — Amendment of supervision order

19.Application to amend conditions of supervision order15

20.Amendment of conditions of supervision order15

Division 4 — Contravention of supervision order

21.Summons or warrant because of contravention16

22.DPP may seek order17

23A.Psychiatric reports17

23.Court may make order17

24A.Orders made during contravention proceedings18

Division 5 — Supervision order extended due to imprisonment

24.Extension of supervision order19

Division 6 — General provisions for Part 2

25.Effect of continuing detention order19

26.Effect of supervision order19

27.Court to give reasons20

Part 3 — Annual reviews of detention

28.Purpose of this Part21

29.Review — periodic21

30.Review — application by person subject to order21

31.Dealing with the application22

32.Psychiatrists’ reports to be prepared for review22

33.The review22

Part 4 — Appeals

34.Appeals23

35.Appeal does not stay decision23

36.Dealing with appeal23

Part 5 — Examination by psychiatrist

37.Preparation of psychiatric report24

38.Providing information for psychiatrist24

39.Copies of report to DPP and person examined25

Part 6 — General

40A.Offence of contravening supervision order26

40B.Procedure on some charges of offences under s. 40A26

40.Proceedings to be criminal proceedings28

41.Deciding certain matters on the papers28

42.Evidence in certain hearings29

43.Court may give directions30

44.Appearance at hearings30

45.Warrant of commitment upon order for detention30

46A.Protection from personal liability30

46.Approved forms31

47.Regulations31

48.Transitional provisions (Sch. 1)31

Schedule 1 — Transitional provisions

1.Provisions for Dangerous Sexual Offenders Amendment Act 201132

2.Provisions for Dangerous Sexual Offenders Amendment Act 201232

Notes

Compilation table33

Defined Terms

 

Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006

An Act to provide for the detention in custody of persons of a particular class, or for their supervision, and for other purposes.

The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:

Part 1  Preliminary

1.Short title

This is the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006.

2.Commencement

This Act comes into operation on a day fixed by proclamation.

3.Terms used in this Act

(1)In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —

chief executive officer means the chief executive officer of the department of the Public Service principally assisting the Minister to administer the provision in which the term chief executive officer is used;

commit a serious sexual offence includes to do an act or make an omission outside this State or outside Australia that, if it were done or made in this State, would constitute a serious sexual offence;

community has a meaning affected by subsection (2);

community corrections officer has the meaning given to that term in the Sentence Administration Act 2003 section 4(2);

continuing detention order means a Division 2 continuing detention order or a Division 4 continuing detention order;

criminal record means the criminal record kept by the Commissioner of Police;

Division 2 continuing detention order means an order under section 17(1)(a);

Division 2 order means —

(a)Division 2 continuing detention order; or

(b)a supervision order under section 17(1)(b);

Division 4 continuing detention order means an order under section 23(b);

DPP means the holder of the office of Director of Public Prosecutions under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1991;

offender has the meaning given to that term in section 8(1);

preliminary hearing means a preliminary hearing referred to in section 11(1);

psychiatrist has the meaning given to that term in the Mental Health Act 1996 section 3;

serious danger to the community has the meaning given to that term in section 7;

serious sexual offence has the meaning given to that term in the Evidence Act 1906 section 106A;

supervision order means an order under section 17(1)(b) or 33(2)(b);

under sentence of imprisonment has a meaning that is consistent with the Sentence Administration Act 2003 section 66.

(2)A reference in this Act to the community includes any community and is not limited to the community of Western Australia or Australia .

[Section 3 amended by No. 3 of 2011 s. 4.]

4.Objects of this Act

The objects of this Act are —

(a)to provide for the detention in custody or the supervision of persons of a particular class to ensure adequate protection of the community; and

(b)to provide for continuing control, care, or treatment, of persons of a particular class.

5.Application of Bail Act 1982

The Bail Act 1982 does not apply to a person detained under this Act other than a person who —

(a)is charged with, and is in custody in relation to, an offence under section 19C or 40A; and

(b)is not detained under this Act for some other reason.

[Section 5 inserted by No. 3 of 2011 s. 5; amended by No. 58 of 2012 s. 4.]

6.Attorney General may perform functions of DPP

(1)The Attorney General may make an application that the DPP may make under this Act and may give a consent that the DPP may give under this Act.

(2)In connection with the exercise by the Attorney General of a power of the DPP, a reference in this Act to the DPP includes, as an alternative, a reference to the Attorney General.

7.Serious danger to the community

(1)Before the court dealing with an application under this Act may find that a person is a serious danger to the community, the court has to be satisfied that there is an unacceptable risk that, if the person were not subject to a continuing detention order or a supervision order, the person would commit a serious sexual offence.

(2)The DPP has the onus of satisfying the court as described in subsection (1) and the court has to be satisfied —

(a)by acceptable and cogent evidence; and

(b)to a high degree of probability.

(3)In deciding whether to find that a person is a serious danger to the community, the court must have regard to —

(a)any report that a psychiatrist prepares as required by section 37 for the hearing of the application and the extent to which the person cooperated when the psychiatrist examined the person;

(b)any other medical, psychiatric, psychological, or other assessment relating to the person;

(c)information indicating whether or not the person has a propensity to commit serious sexual offences in the future;

(d)whether or not there is any pattern of offending behaviour on the part of the person;

(e)any efforts by the person to address the cause or causes of the person’s offending behaviour, including whether the person has participated in any rehabilitation program;

(f)whether or not the person’s participation in any rehabilitation program has had a positive effect on the person;

(g)the person’s antecedents and criminal record;

(h)the risk that, if the person were not subject to a continuing detention order or a supervision order, the person would commit a serious sexual offence;

(i)the need to protect members of the community from that risk; and

(j)any other relevant matter.

Part 2 — Continuing detention or supervision

Division 1 — Application for orders

8.DPP may apply for orders

(1)The DPP may file with the Supreme Court an application for orders under section 14 and section 17(1) in relation to a person (the offender) who is under sentence of imprisonment wholly or in part for a serious sexual offence.

(2)Subsection (1) applies whether the sentence was imposed before or after the commencement of this Act and whether or not the person under sentence of imprisonment is in custody.

(3)If the person under sentence of imprisonment is in custody, the application cannot be filed unless there is a possibility that the person might be released from custody within the period of 6 months after the application is made.

(4)The application filed with the court must —

(a)state the orders sought; and

(b)be accompanied by any affidavits to be relied on by the DPP for the purpose of seeking an order or orders under section 14.

(5)The DPP has to cause the offender to be given, within 2 days after the application is filed, a copy of the application and any affidavit to be relied on by the DPP.

(6)At the time of, or after, filing an application under subsection (1), the DPP may file a separate application to the Supreme Court for the issue of a summons or warrant if the offender —

(a)is not in custody; or

(b)may not be in custody at the time of the preliminary hearing referred to in section 14.

(7)If the DPP applies under subsection (6), the Supreme Court may issue, in the form approved under section 46 —

(a)a summons requiring the offender to appear before the Supreme Court for the preliminary hearing; or

(b)a warrant directed to all members of the police force for the offender to be arrested and brought before the Supreme Court for the preliminary hearing.

[Section 8 amended by No. 3 of 2011 s. 6.]

9.Duty to disclose

(1)This section applies to an application for a Division 2 order.

(2)The DPP has the same duty to disclose evidence or things in the DPP’s possession as if the DPP were prosecuting in a criminal proceeding.

(3)The DPP must disclose the evidence or things before the application is heard and as early as is practicable.

10.Application may proceed even if offender discharged

Even if, after an application is filed under section 8, the offender is discharged from the sentence of imprisonment, the application may proceed and the offender may be dealt with in accordance with this Act.

11.Fixing day for preliminary hearing

(1)After an application is filed under section 8, the proper officer of the court must fix a day for the matter to come before the court for a preliminary hearing.

(2)The day fixed has to be within 14 days after the application is filed.

(3)The main purpose of the preliminary hearing is to decide whether the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the court might, under section 7(1), find that the offender is a serious danger to the community.

12.Offender may file affidavits in response

(1)The offender may file affidavits to be relied on by the offender for the preliminary hearing.

(2)The offender must give a copy of the affidavits to the DPP at least 3 days before the day fixed for the preliminary hearing.

13.Contents of affidavit

An affidavit for use in a preliminary hearing must be confined to the evidence the person making it could give orally except that it may contain statements based on information and belief if the person making the affidavit states the source of the information and the grounds for the belief.

14.Preliminary hearing

(1)At a preliminary hearing, if the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the court might, under section 7(1), find that the offender is a serious danger to the community, the proper officer of the court must fix a day for the hearing of the application for a Division 2 order.

(2)If the court is satisfied as described in subsection (1) —

(a)the court must order that the offender undergo examinations by 2 psychiatrists named by the court for the purposes of preparing the reports required by section 37 that are to be used on the hearing of the application; and

(b)the court may —

(i)if the offender is in custody and might otherwise be released from custody before the application is finally decided, order that the offender be detained in custody for the period stated in the order;

(ii)if the offender is not in custody, order that the offender be detained in custody for the period stated in the order.

15.Authority for psychiatrist to examine offender

An order under section 14(2)(a) authorises each of the 2 psychiatrists named in the order to examine the offender and report in accordance with Part 5.

16.Discontinuing application for Division 2 order

(1)The DPP may, at any time, discontinue an application for a Division 2 order by giving to each of the proper officer of the court and the offender a notice of discontinuance.

(2)The application is to be taken to be dismissed by the court when the notice is given to the proper officer of the court.

(3)If the offender is subject to an order under section 14(2) to be detained in custody, the DPP must apply immediately to the court for rescission of the order.

Division 2 — Orders

17.Division 2 orders

(1)If the court hearing an application for a Division 2 order finds that the offender is a serious danger to the community, the court may —

(a)order that the offender be detained in custody for an indefinite term for control, care, or treatment; or

(b)order that at all times during the period stated in the order when the offender is not in custody the offender be subject to conditions that the court considers appropriate and states in the order.

(2)In deciding whether to make an order under subsection (1)(a) or (b), the paramount consideration is to be the need to ensure adequate protection of the community.

18.Conditions of supervision order

(1)If the court makes a supervision order against a person, the order must require that the person —

(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.

(2)The supervision order may contain any other terms that the court thinks appropriate —

(a)to ensure adequate protection of the community; or

(b)for the rehabilitation or care or treatment of the person subject to the order.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2), the supervision order may provide that —

(a)the person be subject to a curfew under section 19B, for the period specified in the order; and

(b)the photograph and locality of the person are not to be published under the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 section 85G.

[Section 18 amended by No. 1 of 2012 s. 10; No. 58 of 2012 s. 5.]

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.

(3)In subsection (2) —

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.

[Section 19A inserted by No. 58 of 2012 s. 6.]

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.

[Section 19B inserted by No. 58 of 2012 s. 6.]

19C.Enforcement of electronic monitoring and curfew requirement

(1)A community corrections officer may —

(a)direct the occupier of a place where an electronic monitoring device has been installed under section 19A(2) to give the device to a community corrections officer within a specified time; and

(b)at any time, enter a place where an electronic monitoring device has been installed under section 19A(2) and retrieve the device.

(2)A person must not —

(a)fail to comply with a direction under subsection (1)(a); or

(b)hinder a community corrections officer exercising powers under subsection (1)(b).

Penalty: a fine of $12 000 or imprisonment for 12 months.

(3)A person must not, without reasonable excuse, unlawfully interfere with the operation of an electronic monitoring device required to be worn or installed under section 19A(2).

Penalty: imprisonment for 12 months.

(4)If a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (3) committed at a time when the person had reached 18 years of age, then, despite any other written law, the court sentencing the person —

(a)must sentence the person to a term of imprisonment of 12 months; and

(b)must not suspend the term of imprisonment.

(5)To ascertain whether or not a person who is subject to a curfew is complying with the curfew, a community corrections officer may, at any time —

(a)enter or telephone a place specified under section 19B(2) in relation to the person;

(b)enter or telephone the person’s place of employment or any other place where the person is authorised or required to attend;

(c)question any person at any place referred to in paragraph (a) or (b).

(6)A person must not —

(a)hinder a community corrections officer exercising powers under subsection (5); or

(b)fail to answer a question put under subsection (5)(c) or give an answer that the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000 or imprisonment for 12 months.

(7)An act or omission of a person subject to a supervision order that is a contravention of subsection (2), (3) or (6) —

(a)does not constitute an offence under this section; but

(b)is, for the purposes of this Act, to be taken to be a contravention of a requirement of the order (if it is not otherwise).

[Section 19C inserted by No. 58 of 2012 s. 6.]

Division 3 — Amendment of supervision order

19.Application to amend conditions of supervision order

(1)An application to the Supreme Court for it to amend the conditions of a supervision order may be made —

(a)by the person who is subject to the supervision order; or

(b)with the DPP’s consent, by the chief executive officer.

(2)If the person who is subject to the order makes the application, the person has to give notice of the application to the DPP and to the chief executive officer.

(3)If the chief executive officer makes the application, the chief executive officer has to give notice of the application to the person who is subject to the order.

20.Amendment of conditions of supervision order

(1)The court may, on an application under section 19, amend the conditions of a supervision order if the court is satisfied that —

(a)the person who is subject to the order is not able to comply with the conditions of the order because of a change in the person’s circumstances; or

(b)the amendment is necessary or desirable for any other reason.

(2)Before amending the conditions the court has to be satisfied that —

(a)the conditions, as amended, would be sufficient to ensure adequate protection of the community; and

(b)it is reasonable to make the amendment in all the circumstances.

Division 4 — Contravention of supervision order

21.Summons or warrant because of contravention

(1)A member of the police force or community corrections officer who reasonably suspects that a person who is subject to a supervision order is likely to contravene, is contravening, or has contravened, a condition of the order may apply to a magistrate for the issue of a summons or warrant under subsection (2).

(2A)A person who makes an application under subsection (1) must advise the DPP as soon as practicable that the application has been made.

(2)If the magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for the suspicion described in subsection (1), the magistrate has to issue, in the form approved under section 46 —

(a)a summons requiring the person who is subject to the supervision order to appear before the Supreme Court for it to consider the suspected or anticipated contravention; or

(b)a warrant directed to all members of the police force for the person who is subject to the supervision order to be arrested and brought before the Supreme Court for it to consider the suspected or anticipated contravention.

(3)The summons or warrant may state the suspected or anticipated contravention in general terms.

(4)On an application made under subsection (1), a magistrate must not issue a summons to a person under subsection (2) unless —

(a)the magistrate is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that exceptional circumstances justify not issuing a warrant for the arrest of the person; or

(b)the applicant consents to the issue of a summons to the person.

(5)A magistrate cannot issue a warrant under subsection (2) for the arrest of a person unless the application for the warrant is supported by evidence on oath.

[Section 21 amended by No. 3 of 2011 s. 7.]

22.DPP may seek order

(1)If a person appears before the Supreme Court under a summons or warrant issued under section 21 or 24A(5)(d), the DPP may apply to the court for an order under section 23.

(2)The application must state the order sought.

[Section 22 amended by No. 3 of 2011 s. 8.]

23A.Psychiatric reports

(1)After an application is made under section 22 in relation to a person, the Supreme Court may order that the person undergo examination by one or more psychiatrists named by the court for the purposes of preparing the report required by section 37.

(2)An order made under subsection (1) authorises the named psychiatrist to examine the person and report in accordance with Part 5.

[Section 23A inserted by No. 3 of 2011 s. 9.]

23.Court may make order

(1)If the court is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the person who is subject to the supervision order is likely to contravene, is contravening, or has contravened, a condition of the supervision order, the court may —

(a)make an order amending the conditions of the supervision order and, if the court considers it appropriate in order to achieve compliance with the supervision order or necessary in order to ensure adequate protection of the community, make any other order; or

(b)if the court is also satisfied that there is an unacceptable risk that, if an order under this paragraph were not made, the person would commit a serious sexual offence, order that the person be detained in custody for an indefinite term for control, care, or treatment.

(2)In deciding whether to make an order under subsection (1)(a) or (b), the paramount consideration is to be the need to ensure adequate protection of the community.

[Section 23 amended by No. 3 of 2011 s. 10.]

24A.Orders made during contravention proceedings

(1)This section applies if a person who is subject to a supervision order is before the Supreme Court and proceedings on an application made under section 22 in respect of the person are pending (the pending proceedings).

(2)The court may at any time in the pending proceedings —

(a)order the person to be detained in custody; or

(b)release the person.

(3)The court must not release the person unless —

(a)the court is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that releasing the person is justified by exceptional circumstances; or

(b)the DPP consents to the court releasing the person.

(4)In making a decision under subsections (2) and (3), the paramount consideration is to be the need to ensure adequate protection of the community.

(5)If the court releases the person —

(a)the person remains subject to the supervision order; and

(b)the court, before the pending proceedings are determined, may make an interim order amending the supervision order to include any requirements the court considers appropriate to ensure adequate protection of the community; and

(c)the court may order the person to reappear before the court at any adjourned hearing of the pending proceedings; and

(d)if it is alleged that the person has further breached the supervision order or breached an order made under paragraph (c), the court may issue a warrant to have the person arrested and brought before the court.

[Section 24A inserted by No. 3 of 2011 s. 11.]

Division 5 — Supervision order extended due to imprisonment

24.Extension of supervision order

(1)This section applies if a person who is subject to a supervision order is sentenced to a term or period of imprisonment for any offence, other than a sexual offence as defined in the Evidence Act 1906 section 36A, whether committed before or after the supervision order was made.

(2)The period for which the supervision order applies is extended by any period after the order is made during which the person is in custody serving the sentence of imprisonment.

Division 6 — General provisions for Part 2

25.Effect of continuing detention order

A continuing detention order has effect in accordance with its terms from the time the order is made until rescinded by a further order of the Supreme Court.

26.Effect of supervision order

A supervision order has effect in accordance with its terms.

27.Court to give reasons

(1)If a court makes a continuing detention order or a supervision order, it must give detailed reasons for making the order.

(2)The reasons must be given at the time the order is made.

Part 3  Annual reviews of detention

28.Purpose of this Part

The purpose of this Part is to ensure that a person’s detention under a continuing detention order is regularly reviewed.

29.Review — periodic

(1)While a person is subject to a continuing detention order, the DPP must apply to the Supreme Court for the person’s detention under the order to be reviewed as specified in subsection (2).

(2)Reviews have to be carried out —

(a)as soon as practicable after the end of a period of 1 year commencing when the person is first in custody on a day on which the person would not have been in custody had the order not been made; and

(b)as soon as practicable after the end of the period of 1 year commencing when the detention was most recently reviewed under this section or section 30.

30.Review — application by person subject to order

(1)A person who is subject to a continuing detention order may, with the leave of the court, apply to the Supreme Court for the person’s detention under the order to be reviewed.

(2)Before granting leave the court must be satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances that relate to the person.

(3)An application cannot be made under this section for a person’s detention to be reviewed until after the detention has been reviewed under section 29(2)(a).

(4)When a person applies under this section for the person’s detention to be reviewed or applies for leave to make an application of that kind, the proper officer of the court must immediately give a copy of the application to the DPP.

31.Dealing with the application

(1)As soon as practicable after an application is made under section 29 or 30, the court has to give directions for the hearing of the application.

(2)The application must be heard, and the review must be carried out, as soon as it is practicable to do so in accordance with any directions given by the court.

32.Psychiatrists’ reports to be prepared for review

(1)Unless the court otherwise orders, the chief executive officer must arrange for a person to be examined by 2 psychiatrists for the purposes of preparing the reports required by section 37 that are to be used on a review under this Part.

(2)This section authorises each of the 2 psychiatrists to examine the person and report in accordance with Part 5.

33.The review

(1)When the court, on an application made under section 29 or 30, reviews a person’s detention under 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.

(2)The court may, if it finds that the person subject to the order remains a serious danger to the community, either —

(a)expressly decline to rescind the order; or

(b)rescind the order and make an order that at all times during the period stated in the order when the person is not in custody the person be subject to conditions that the court considers appropriate and states in the order.

(3)In making a decision under subsection (2), the paramount consideration is to be the need to ensure adequate protection of the community.

Part 4  Appeals

34.Appeals

The DPP or a person in relation to whom the court makes a decision under this Act, other than this Part, may appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision.

35.Appeal does not stay decision

(1)An appeal against a decision does not stay the operation of the decision unless the Court of Appeal orders otherwise.

(2)However, if the Court of Appeal might, in finally determining the appeal, order that a party to the appeal be detained in custody, the court may order that the party be detained in custody until the determination of the appeal.

36.Dealing with appeal

(1)An appeal is by way of rehearing.

(2)The Court of Appeal —

(a)has all the powers and duties of the court making the decision against which the appeal is made;

(b)may draw inferences of fact, not inconsistent with the findings of the court making the decision against which the appeal is made; and

(c)may, on special grounds, receive further evidence as to questions of fact, either orally in court, by affidavit, or in another way.

Part 5  Examination by psychiatrist

37.Preparation of psychiatric report

(1)Each psychiatrist named in an order under section 14(2)(a) or 23A(1) or with whom the chief executive officer makes an arrangement under section 32(1) must examine the person to whom the order or arrangement relates and prepare an independent report.

(2)The report has to indicate —

(a)the psychiatrist’s assessment of the level of risk that, if the person were not subject to a continuing detention order or a supervision order, the person would commit a serious sexual offence; and

(b)the reasons for the psychiatrist’s assessment.

(3)The psychiatrist must have regard to any report or information that the chief executive officer gives to the psychiatrist under section 38(1).

(4)The obligation under subsection (1) to prepare a report applies even if the person to be examined does not cooperate, or does not cooperate fully, in the examination.

[Section 37 amended by No. 3 of 2011 s. 12.]

38.Providing information for psychiatrist

(1)The chief executive officer must give to each psychiatrist, for the purpose of preparing the report, any medical, psychiatric, prison, or other relevant report or information relating to the person to be examined that is in the chief executive officer’s possession or to which the chief executive officer has, or may be given, access.

(2)The chief executive officer must give to the DPP a copy of anything that the chief executive officer gives to a psychiatrist under subsection (1).

(3)A person in possession of any medical, psychiatric, prison, or other relevant report or information relating to the person to be examined must give a copy of the report or the information to the chief executive officer if asked by the chief executive officer to do so.

(4)Subsection (3) applies despite any other law or any duty of confidentiality.

(5)If a person asked under subsection (3) to give a copy of any report or information to the chief executive officer refuses to do so, the chief executive officer may apply to the court for an order requiring the person to give the report or information to the chief executive officer.

(6)A person asked under subsection (3) or ordered under subsection (5) to give a report or information to the chief executive officer is not liable, civilly, criminally, or under an administrative process, for doing so.

39.Copies of report to DPP and person examined

(1)A psychiatrist who prepares a report as required by section 37(1) must give a copy of the report to the DPP within 7 days after finalising the report.

(2)The DPP must give a copy of the report to the person examined before the end of the day after the DPP receives the report and at the same time give to the person a copy of anything that the chief executive officer gives to the DPP under section 38(2).

Part 6  General

40A.Offence of contravening supervision order

(1)A person subject to a supervision order who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes a requirement of the order commits an offence.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(2A)If a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) for an act or omission that is also a contravention of section 19C(3) then, despite any other written law, the court sentencing the person —

(a)must sentence the person to a term of imprisonment of at least 12 months; and

(b)must not suspend the term of imprisonment.

(2)A police officer who suspects on reasonable grounds that a person has committed an offence under subsection (1) may, without a warrant, arrest the person.

(3)A police officer who charges a person with an offence under this section must inform the DPP as soon as practicable.

[Section 40A inserted by No. 3 of 2011 s. 13; amended by No. 58 of 2012 s. 7.]

40B.Procedure on some charges of offences under s. 40A

(1)Except as provided in this section, the procedure applicable to and in relation to a charge of an offence under section 40A(1) is the procedure applicable to and in relation to a charge of any other simple offence.

(2)A prosecution of a charge of an offence under section 40A(1) against a person in relation to certain conduct may be commenced in the Supreme Court only if proceedings have been commenced under Part 2 Division 4 in respect of the person in relation to the same conduct and not concluded.

(3)Only an authorised officer (as defined in the Criminal Procedure Act 2004 section 80) can commence a prosecution of a charge of an offence under section 40A(1) in the Supreme Court.

(4)If proceedings on a charge of an offence under section 40A(1) against a person in relation to certain conduct, and proceedings commenced under Part 2 Division 4 in respect of the person in relation to the same conduct, are in progress at the same time —

(a)if a court of summary jurisdiction is dealing with the charge, it must, on an application made by a police officer or the DPP, transfer the charge to the Supreme Court; and

(b)the DPP must prosecute the charge in the Supreme Court; and

(c)a judge of the Supreme Court must deal with the charge summarily under the Criminal Procedure Act 2004 as if it were a prosecution of a simple offence in a court of summary jurisdiction, but —

(i)no fees shall be charged by the Supreme Court for or in respect of any act or proceeding that relates to the prosecution; and

(ii)the Supreme Court cannot order a party to the prosecution to pay another party’s costs of or relating to the prosecution, except under the Criminal Procedure Act 2004 section 166(2);

and

(d)any findings of fact by the Supreme Court in the proceedings on the charge may be used in the proceedings under Part 2 Division 4; and

(e)if the person is convicted of the charge, the sentencing of the person may be adjourned until after the proceedings under Part 2 Division 4 are concluded; and

(f)if the Supreme Court fines the person for the offence, the court may make an order under the Sentencing Act 1995 section 59 in respect of the fine.

(5)A person who is dissatisfied with a decision (as defined in the Criminal Appeals Act 2004 section 6) made by the Supreme Court under subsection (4) in proceedings on a charge of an offence under section 40A(1) may, with the leave of the Court of Appeal, appeal against it.

(6)For the purposes of subsection (5), the Criminal Appeals Act 2004 Part 2, with any necessary changes, applies as if —

(a)the decision referred to in subsection (5) were a decision of a court of summary jurisdiction; and

(b)a reference in that Part to a court of summary jurisdiction were a reference to the Supreme Court; and

(c)a reference in that Part to the Supreme Court were a reference to the Court of Appeal.

(7)Despite the Criminal Appeals Act 2004 section 13(1), the appeal is to be dealt with by the Court of Appeal.

[Section 40B inserted by No. 3 of 2011 s. 13.]

40.Proceedings to be criminal proceedings

Proceedings under this Act or on an appeal under this Act, are to be taken to be criminal proceedings for all purposes.

41.Deciding certain matters on the papers

(1)This section applies to how the court may decide —

(a)whether it is satisfied, as required by section 14(1), that there are reasonable grounds for the belief described in that subsection; or

(b)whether it is satisfied as required by section 20.

(2)The court may decide entirely or partly from a consideration of the documents filed, without the offender or person subject to the order or witnesses appearing and without the offender or person subject to the order consenting to, or being heard on, the making of the decision.

(3)In making its decision, the court may receive in evidence —

(a)any document relevant to the antecedents or criminal record of the offender or person subject to the order;

(b)anything relevant contained in the official transcript of any judicial proceeding against the offender or person subject to the order for a serious sexual offence, or contained in any medical, psychiatric, psychological or other report tendered in a proceeding of that kind.

42.Evidence in certain hearings

(1)This section applies to —

(a)an application for a Division 2 order;

(b)an application under section 29 or 30 for a review; and

(c)an application for an order under section 23.

(2)Before the court makes a decision or order on the hearing of an application it must, if the evidence is admissible —

(a)hear evidence called by the DPP; and

(b)hear evidence given or called by the offender or person subject to the order, if that person elects to give or call evidence.

(3)Except as modified by subsection (4), ordinary rules of evidence apply to evidence given or called under subsection (2).

(4)In making its decision, the court may receive in evidence —

(a)any document relevant to a person’s antecedents or criminal record;

(b)anything relevant contained in the official transcript of any proceeding against a person for a serious sexual offence, or contained in any medical, psychiatric, psychological or other report tendered in a proceeding of that kind.

43.Court may give directions

The court may, on its own initiative or on the application of a party, give directions in relation to the conduct of a proceeding under this Act.

44.Appearance at hearings

(1)A person is entitled to appear at the hearing of an application for a Division 2 order against that person.

(2)A person is entitled to appear at the hearing of an application under section 29 or 30 for the review of the person’s detention under a continuing detention order.

45.Warrant of commitment upon order for detention

If a court orders under this Act that a person be detained in custody, it must issue a warrant for the person’s apprehension, if necessary, and detention in a prison under the Prisons Act 1981.

46A.Protection from personal liability

(1)In this section —

protected person means —

(a)a person employed in the department of the Public Service that principally assists the Minister administering the Prisons Act 1981; or

(b)a person appointed under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1991 or a person on the staff referred to in section 30 of that Act; or

(c)a psychiatrist.

(2)In this section, a reference to the doing of anything includes a reference to the omission to do anything.

(3)An action in tort does not lie against a protected person for anything done, in good faith, in the performance or purported performance of a function under this Act.

(4)The protection given by this section applies even though the thing done as described in subsection (3) may have been capable of being done whether or not this Act had been enacted.

[Section 46A inserted by No. 3 of 2011 s. 14.]

46.Approved forms

The chief executive officer may approve forms for use under this Act.

47.Regulations

The Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.

48.Transitional provisions (Sch. 1)

Schedule 1 sets out transitional provisions.

[Section 48 inserted by No. 3 of 2011 s. 15.]

Schedule 1 — Transitional provisions

[s. 48]

[Heading inserted by No. 3 of 2011 s. 16.]

1.Provisions for Dangerous Sexual Offenders Amendment Act 2011

(1)In this clause —

commencement day means the day on which the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Amendment Act 2011, other than sections 1 and 2, comes into operation.

(2)This Act, as amended by the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Amendment Act 2011, applies to applications made under this Act, and not concluded, before commencement day.

[Clause 1 inserted by No. 3 of 2011 s. 16.]

2.Provisions for Dangerous Sexual Offenders Amendment Act 2012

(1)In this clause —

commencement day means the day on which the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Amendment Act 2012, other than sections 1 and 2, comes into operation.

(2)The validity of any requirement, under a supervision order, in the nature of a curfew or electronic monitoring that was in effect before commencement day is not affected by the commencement of the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Amendment Act 2012.

(3)If a person is subject to a supervision order that was in effect immediately before commencement day then, on and from commencement day, the person is subject to electronic monitoring under section 19A during the remainder of the term of the order, as if the person were required to be subject to electronic monitoring by the order.

(4)Subclause (3) does not prevent a community corrections officer from exercising his or her discretion under section 19A(4) in relation to a person referred to in subclause (3).

[Clause 2 inserted by No. 58 of 2012 s. 8.]

 

Notes

1This is a compilation of the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006 and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table.

Compilation table

Short title

Number and year

Assent

Commencement

Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006

1 of 2006

30 Mar 2006

13 May 2006 (see s. 2 and Gazette 12 May 2006 p. 1781)

Dangerous Sexual Offenders Amendment Act 2011

3 of 2011

1 Mar 2011

s. 1 and 2: 1 Mar 2011 (see s. 2(a);
Act other than s. 1 and 2: 2 Mar 2011 (see s. 2(b))

Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment Act 2012 Pt. 3 Div. 2

1 of 2012

15 Mar 2012

1 Jul 2012 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 22 Jun 2012 p. 2777)

Dangerous Sexual Offenders Amendment Act 2012

58 of 2012

11 Dec 2012

s. 1 and 2: 11 Dec 2012 (see s. 2(a));
Act other than s. 1 and 2:
1 Feb 2013 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 4 Jan 2013 p. 3)

 

 

Defined Terms

 

[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]

Defined TermProvision(s)

approved19A(3)

chief executive officer3(1)

commencement daySch. 1, cl. 1(1) and 2(1)

commit a serious sexual offence3(1)

community3(1)

community corrections officer3(1)

continuing detention order3(1)

criminal record3(1)

Division 2 continuing detention order3(1)

Division 2 order3(1)

Division 4 continuing detention order3(1)

DPP3(1)

offender3(1), 8(1)

pending proceedings24A(1)

preliminary hearing3(1)

protected person46A(1)

psychiatrist3(1)

serious danger to the community3(1)

serious sexual offence3(1)

specified19B(3)

supervision order3(1)

under sentence of imprisonment3(1)