Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Act 2015

If you need more information about this Act, please contact the administering agency: Ministry of Justice

Version as at 28 February 2023

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Act 2015

Public Act
 
2015 No 112
Date of assent
 
18 November 2015
Commencement
 
see section 2
Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Justice.

Contents

1Title
2Commencement
Part 1
Preliminary provisions
3Purpose
3AAct’s provisions apply retrospectively
3BAct’s provisions override inconsistent other law
4Interpretation
5Transitional, savings, and related provisions
6Act binds the Crown
Part 2
Returning offenders: management and information
Subpart 1—Returning offenders
7Who is returning offender
Taking identifying particulars from returning offenders
8Purpose of obtaining information for use by Police for any lawful purpose
9Police may request returning offender to provide identifying particulars
10Police may detain returning offender for purpose of taking identifying particulars
11Police may take identifying particulars
12Storage, etc, on Police information recording system of identifying particulars
13Offence of failing to comply with constable’s direction
Obtaining bodily samples from returning offenders
14Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995 applies to certain returning offenders
15Express modification of Part 3 of 1995 Act
Subpart 2—Returning prisoners
General
16Who is returning prisoner
17Criteria for determination that person is returning prisoner
Commissioner’s determination that person is returning prisoner
18Time for Commissioner to determine that person is returning prisoner
18ANotice and right to be heard
19Determination notice
20Content of determination notice
21Entry to premises to serve determination notice
22Review of Commissioner’s determination
23Review does not suspend release conditions
23ACommissioner must revoke determination if conviction overturned, or person pardoned, for overseas jurisdiction offence
Consequences of determination as returning prisoner
24Returning prisoner subject to standard release conditions
25Returning prisoner must comply with standard release conditions
26Returning prisoner must comply with special conditions imposed by court
27Interim special conditions
28Court may vary or discharge release conditions
29Effect of subsequent sentence of imprisonment
30When release conditions end
31Offence to breach release conditions
Subpart 3—Returning offender who returns to New Zealand more than 6 months after release from custody
32Who subpart applies to
33Court may impose conditions on returning offender
34Sections 26 to 31 apply to returning offender to whom this subpart applies
34AApplication to court to revoke conditions imposed if conviction overturned, or person pardoned, for overseas jurisdiction offence
Subpart 4—Amendments to other Acts and review
[Repealed]
35Parole Act 2002 amended [Repealed]
36Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014 amended [Repealed]
37Review by select committee [Repealed]
Schedule 1
Transitional, savings, and related provisions
Notes

The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:

 
1 Title

This Act is the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Act 2015.

2 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day on which it receives the Royal assent.

Part 1 Preliminary provisions

3 Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to obtain information from returning offenders and establish release conditions for offenders returning to New Zealand following a prison sentence of more than 1 year in an overseas jurisdiction.

3A Act’s provisions apply retrospectively

(1)

A provision of this Act applies to a person after the provision’s commencement even if all or any of the following occurred before the provision’s commencement:

(a)

the person’s conduct overseas that constitutes an imprisonable offence in New Zealand:

(b)

the person’s conviction for an overseas jurisdiction offence for that conduct:

(c)

the person’s having been sentenced to 1 or more terms of imprisonment overseas for the overseas jurisdiction offence:

(d)

the end of the person’s sentence of imprisonment overseas for the overseas jurisdiction offence:

(e)

the person’s release from custody in a prison overseas or, if the person is detained in an immigration or other facility overseas following release from prison overseas, release from that facility overseas:

(f)

the person’s deportation or removal to New Zealand on grounds that are or include their conviction for the overseas jurisdiction offence:

(g)

the person’s return to New Zealand:

(h)

the person’s conviction for the overseas jurisdiction offence being overturned:

(i)

the person’s being pardoned for the overseas jurisdiction offence:

(j)

any other conduct of, or event relating to, the person that the provision requires to have occurred in order for the provision to apply.

(2)

This section does not affect or limit—

(a)

the validations in clause 8 of Schedule 1:

(b)

the exception to those validations in clause 9 of Schedule 1.

(3)

This section overrides any inconsistent other law.

(4)

In particular, any other law, for the purposes of subsection (3), includes any law in all or any of the following:

(a)

section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1999 (in force after this Act’s commencement until the close of 27 October 2021):

(b)

section 12 of the Legislation Act 2019 (in force after 27 October 2021):

(c)

G v Commissioner of Police [2022] NZHC 3514.

Section 3A: inserted, on 28 February 2023, by section 4 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

3B Act’s provisions override inconsistent other law

(1)

This section applies to conduct—

(a)

mentioned in, or otherwise necessary for carrying out, or giving full effect to, a provision of this Act; and

(b)

after the provision’s commencement.

(2)

Examples of the conduct are—

(a)

making, amending, revoking, or revoking and replacing, a determination or other decision:

(b)

requesting a person to provide identifying particulars and taking them if the person provides them in response to a request, detaining the person (using reasonable force if necessary) if the person refuses, taking the identifying particulars of a person who has been detained for the purpose of taking them, giving a direction related to exercising those powers, or entering, recording, and storing on a Police information recording system the identifying particulars of a person that are provided in response to a request or otherwise taken:

(c)

issuing, amending, revoking, revoking and replacing, or serving a notice (for example, a databank compulsion notice under section 14, or a determination notice):

(d)

applying for, issuing, or executing a warrant for entry to any premises to serve a determination notice:

(e)

applying for, imposing, varying, discharging, or revoking a standard release condition or a special condition (which, in this section, includes, without limitation, a condition imposed under section 33(1) and to which sections 26 to 31 apply under section 34):

(f)

suspending under section 28(3) a standard release condition or a special condition:

(g)

administering a standard release condition or a special condition (for example, monitoring compliance with a standard release condition or a special condition, and investigating and prosecuting an offence of breaching a standard release condition or a special condition):

(h)

reviewing under section 22 a determination under section 17:

(i)

doing, or omitting to do, any other act or omission mentioned in, or otherwise necessary for carrying out, or giving full effect to, the provision.

(3)

The conduct must or may be done or omitted in accordance with the provision even if the conduct is, for an overseas jurisdiction offence for which the relevant person has been convicted and punished overseas, 1 or both of the following:

(a)

punishment again:

(b)

a variation and increase of penalty between commission of, and sentencing for, that offence.

(4)

This section does not affect or limit—

(a)

the validations in clause 8 of Schedule 1:

(b)

the exception to those validations in clause 9 of Schedule 1.

(5)

This section overrides any inconsistent other law.

(6)

In particular, any other law, for the purposes of subsection (5), includes any law in all or any of the following:

(a)

section 6(1) and (2) of the Sentencing Act 2002:

(b)

sections 25(g) and 26(2) of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990:

(c)

G v Commissioner of Police [2022] NZHC 3514.

Section 3B: inserted, on 28 February 2023, by section 4 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

4 Interpretation

(1)

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

chief executive means the chief executive of the Department of Corrections

Commissioner means the Commissioner of Police

constable has the meaning given to it in section 4 of the Policing Act 2008

court means the District Court

Customs place has the meaning given to it in section 5(1) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018

detain, in relation to a person, includes to move the person to a Customs place, Police station, or any other place being used for Police purposes

determination notice means a notice served under section 19

drug or alcohol condition means a special condition under section 15(3)(ba) of the Parole Act (as that provision is applied with all necessary modifications by sections 26(4), 27, and 34 of this Act)

identifying particulars has the same meaning as in section 32(5) of the Policing Act 2008

overseas jurisdiction—

(a)

excludes the islands and territories within the Realm of New Zealand; but

(b)

includes the self-governing state of the Cook Islands, the self-governing state of Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency

overturned, in relation to a conviction for an overseas jurisdiction offence (see sections 23A and 34A), means that the conviction is set aside—

(a)

without an order for retrial; or

(b)

with a retrial being ordered but—

(i)

not being proceeded with; or

(ii)

not resulting in a conviction; or

(iii)

being ended by a stay of proceedings

pardoned, in relation to a person and an overseas jurisdiction offence (see sections 23A and 34A), means that the person—

(a)

has been granted a free pardon for the offence; or

(b)

is, because of the exercise of other applicable legal powers of clemency or mercy, otherwise taken never to have committed the offence

Parole Act means the Parole Act 2002

Police means the New Zealand Police

release condition means a standard release condition or a special condition

relevant sentence means the sentence referred to in section 17(1)(b)

returning offender has the meaning given to it in section 7

returning prisoner has the meaning given to it in section 16

sentence of life imprisonment has the meaning given to it in section 24(3)

special condition means a condition imposed by a court under section 26(1) or 27(1)

standard release condition means a condition that is set out or referred to in section 25

the provision’s commencement or this provision’s commencement, for a provision of this Act inserted, amended, or replaced after this Act’s commencement, includes—

(a)

this Act’s commencement; and

(b)

the commencement of any other related provision of this Act inserted, amended, or replaced after this Act’s commencement; and

(c)

the commencement of any legislation inserting, amending, or replacing the provision.

(2)

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, a term that is used but not defined, but that is defined in the Parole Act, has the same meaning as in that Act.

Section 4(1) Customs place: amended, on 1 October 2018, by section 443(3) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (2018 No 4).

Section 4(1) drug or alcohol condition: inserted, on 15 May 2017, by section 4 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 87).

Section 4(1) overturned: inserted, on 30 November 2022, by section 114 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 75).

Section 4(1) pardoned: inserted, on 30 November 2022, by section 114 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 75).

Section 4(1) the provision’s commencement or this provision’s commencement: inserted, on 28 February 2023, by section 5 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

5 Transitional, savings, and related provisions

The transitional, savings, and related provisions (if any) set out in Schedule 1 have effect according to their terms.

6 Act binds the Crown

This Act binds the Crown.

Part 2 Returning offenders: management and information

Subpart 1—Returning offenders

7 Who is returning offender

A returning offender—

(a)

is a person who has been convicted in an overseas jurisdiction of an offence for conduct that constitutes an imprisonable offence in New Zealand and, being liable for deportation or removal as a result of that conviction, has returned to New Zealand; and

(b)

includes a returning prisoner.

Taking identifying particulars from returning offenders

8 Purpose of obtaining information for use by Police for any lawful purpose

The purpose of sections 9 to 11 is to enable the Police to obtain information that may be used now or in the future by the Police for any lawful purpose.

Compare: 2008 No 72 ss 32(1), 33(1)

9 Police may request returning offender to provide identifying particulars

The Police may, as soon as is reasonably practicable, request a returning offender to provide identifying particulars and may detain the offender under section 10 if the offender refuses.

10 Police may detain returning offender for purpose of taking identifying particulars

(1)

A constable may, for the purpose of taking the identifying particulars of a returning offender, detain the offender on, or at any time within 6 months after, the offender’s return to New Zealand.

(2)

A constable may detain an offender under subsection (1) only for a period that is no longer than is reasonably necessary in the circumstances for a constable to take the identifying particulars of the offender.

(3)

A constable may use reasonable force, if it is necessary, to detain an offender under subsection (1).

Compare: 1996 No 27 s 148A(1), (6)

11 Police may take identifying particulars

A constable may take the identifying particulars of a returning offender who has been detained under section 10 but—

(a)

must do so in a manner that is reasonable in the circumstances; and

(b)

may only use reasonable force that may be necessary to secure those identifying particulars.

Compare: 2008 No 72 s 32(3)

12 Storage, etc, on Police information recording system of identifying particulars

(1)

The identifying particulars of a returning offender that are provided in response to a request under section 9 or otherwise taken under section 11 may be entered, recorded, and stored on a Police information recording system.

(2)

However, photographs or visual images of a returning offender, and impressions of that person’s fingerprints, palm-prints, or footprints, that are provided in response to a request under section 9 or obtained under section 11 in error must be destroyed as soon as practicable.

(3)

In subsection (2), error includes mistaken identity or mistake as to whether a person meets the criteria for a returning offender.

Compare: 2008 No 72 s 34

13 Offence of failing to comply with constable’s direction

(1)

A person who, after being cautioned, fails to comply with a direction of a constable exercising his or her powers under section 10 or 11—

(a)

commits an offence; and

(b)

is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both.

(2)

A person who, in response to a request under section 9 or otherwise under section 11, provides information to the Police knowing that the information is false or misleading in a material particular—

(a)

commits an offence; and

(b)

is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both.

Compare: 2008 No 72 s 32(4)

Obtaining bodily samples from returning offenders

14 Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995 applies to certain returning offenders

(1)

For the purpose of obtaining a bodily sample by a databank compulsion notice under Part 3 of the 1995 Act from a returning offender, a constable who is of or above the level of position of inspector may issue a databank compulsion notice requiring the offender to give a bodily sample if—

(a)

a ground of the offender’s removal or deportation to New Zealand was the offender’s conviction in an overseas jurisdiction of an offence for conduct that constitutes an imprisonable offence in New Zealand; and

(b)

that conviction would, if entered in a New Zealand court, be a conviction to which Part 3 of the 1995 Act applies under section 4 of that Act.

(2)

For the purpose stated in subsection (1), Parts 3 to 5 of the 1995 Act apply—

(a)

with all necessary modifications; and

(b)

subject to the express modifications set out in section 15.

15 Express modification of Part 3 of 1995 Act

Part 3 of the 1995 Act is modified for the purpose stated in section 14(1) as follows:

(a)

section 39(3)(a) must be read as requiring the notice to be served on, or as soon as is reasonably practicable after, the returning offender’s return to New Zealand:

(b)

in sections 39A(3), 39C(2), and 46A(1), a reference to being on parole subject to residential restrictions imposed under section 15 of the Parole Act must be read as a reference to being subject to residential restrictions imposed under section 26 or 27 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Act 2015:

(c)

section 39C(3)(a) does not apply if the returning offender and the constable have agreed that the returning offender give the bodily sample immediately on his or her return to New Zealand:

(d)

section 39C(3)(b) and (4)(b)(ii) must be read as if those provisions referred to 6 months from the date of the returning offender’s return to New Zealand:

(e)

in sections 41, 41B, 44, 45, and 47, appropriate court means the District Court:

(f)

sections 41(2)(d) and 42(4) do not apply if a returning offender and the constable have agreed that the returning offender give the bodily sample immediately on his or her return to New Zealand:

(g)

section 41(2)(e)(i) and (ii)(B) must be read as if those provisions referred to 6 months from the date of the returning offender’s return to New Zealand.

Subpart 2—Returning prisoners

General

16 Who is returning prisoner

A returning prisoner is a person who has been determined by the Commissioner to be a returning prisoner in accordance with the criteria set out in section 17.

17 Criteria for determination that person is returning prisoner

(1)

The Commissioner must determine that a person is a returning prisoner if the Commissioner is satisfied that the person—

(a)

has been convicted in an overseas jurisdiction of an offence for conduct that constitutes an imprisonable offence in New Zealand; and

(b)

has, in respect of that conviction, been sentenced to—

(i)

a term of imprisonment of more than 1 year; or

(ii)

2 or more terms of imprisonment that are cumulative, the total term of which is more than 1 year; and

(c)

is returning or has returned to New Zealand within 6 months after his or her release from custody during or at the end of the sentence.

(2)

In subsection (1), release from custody means release from custody in a prison or, if a person is detained in an immigration or other facility following release from prison, release from that facility.

(3)

To avoid doubt, a person who is released at the end of a prison sentence and has been in the community for more than 6 months is not a returning prisoner, even though he or she is later detained in an immigration or other facility.

Commissioner’s determination that person is returning prisoner

18 Time for Commissioner to determine that person is returning prisoner

A determination by the Commissioner that a person is a returning prisoner must not be made later than 6 months after that person’s return to New Zealand.

18A Notice and right to be heard

(1)

A determination by the Commissioner that a person is a returning prisoner must be made without providing the person with notice or a right to be heard.

(2)

This section does not prevent a person providing voluntarily to the Commissioner, in response to a request that the Commissioner may (but need not) make, information—

(a)

about whether the person is a returning prisoner; and

(b)

adding to other information available to the Commissioner about that matter.

(3)

This section also does not affect a returning prisoner’s right to apply for—

(a)

review under section 22 of the Commissioner’s determination:

(b)

judicial review of the Commissioner’s determination.

Section 18A: inserted, on 28 February 2023, by section 6 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

19 Determination notice

(1)

The Commissioner must serve a written notice on a person (P) who has been determined to be a returning prisoner.

(2)

The notice must be served,—

(a)

if practicable, on P’s return to New Zealand; or

(b)

if service on P’s return to New Zealand is not practicable, as soon as is reasonably practicable after P’s return to New Zealand; but

(c)

in any event, not later than 6 months after P’s return to New Zealand.

(3)

The notice must state the information set out in section 20.

20 Content of determination notice

A determination notice must—

(a)

state that the person named in the notice (P) has been determined by the Commissioner to be a returning prisoner for the purposes of this Act; and

(b)

state that P is subject to release conditions under this Act; and

(c)

state the period for which P is subject to release conditions; and

(d)

set out the standard release conditions and any special condition or interim special condition; and

(e)

state that P must report to a probation officer at a probation service centre within 72 hours of service of the notice; and

(f)

provide information about how to contact a probation officer; and

(g)

state that P may be required to provide identifying particulars; and

(h)

explain P’s right under section 22 to apply to the Commissioner for a review of the determination; and

(i)

state the grounds on which P may apply for a Commissioner’s review; and

(j)

state the time limit for applying for a Commissioner’s review; and

(k)

state that P’s release conditions are not suspended on account of a Commissioner’s review; and

(l)

state that, on the application of the chief executive, a court may impose 1 or more special conditions on P; and

(m)

record the date on which the notice is served and the identity of the person who serves it.

21 Entry to premises to serve determination notice

A court may, on the application of the Commissioner, issue a warrant for entry to any premises where a returning prisoner is reasonably believed to be present if the court is satisfied that a person has refused or refuses to allow the Police to enter those or any other premises in order to prevent or avoid service of a determination notice.

22 Review of Commissioner’s determination

(1)

A returning prisoner may apply to the Commissioner to review a determination under section 17 on the ground that—

(a)

the returning prisoner does not meet 1 or more of the criteria set out in section 17(1); or

(b)

the determination notice incorrectly states the period for which the returning prisoner is subject to release conditions; or

(c)

the determination notice was served more than 6 months after a person’s return to New Zealand.

(2)

The application must be made at any time after service on the returning prisoner of the determination notice.

(3)

The review must be a factual inquiry only and must be completed within 20 working days after receipt of the application.

(4)

The Commissioner must—

(a)

give the applicant a reasonable opportunity to state his or her case before the Commissioner makes a decision; and

(b)

confirm, modify, or revoke the determination notice; and

(c)

notify the applicant of his or her decision in writing without unreasonable delay.

(5)

Nothing in this section affects the right of a returning prisoner to apply for judicial review of the Commissioner’s determination under section 17.

Section 22(2): amended, on 28 February 2023, by section 7 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

23 Review does not suspend release conditions

An application for a review under section 22 does not affect the operation of the applicant’s release conditions, which remain in force during the period of review.

23A Commissioner must revoke determination if conviction overturned, or person pardoned, for overseas jurisdiction offence

(1)

The Commissioner must revoke a determination that a person is a returning prisoner if, after considering information provided by or on behalf of the person, the Commissioner is satisfied—

(a)

that the person has been convicted in an overseas jurisdiction of an offence for conduct that constitutes an imprisonable offence in New Zealand; and

(b)

that the determination was made in respect of the conviction; and

(c)

that the conviction has been overturned, or that the person has been pardoned for that overseas jurisdiction offence.

(2)

This section does not limit any other duty or power of the Commissioner or of a court to amend or revoke the determination.

(3)

After the revocation, the person—

(a)

is no longer a returning prisoner because of the determination; and

(b)

is no longer subject to, and required to comply with, standard release conditions because of service on the person of a determination notice related to the determination; and

(c)

is no longer required to comply with any special conditions, or interim special conditions, imposed on the person by the District Court because of the determination.

(4)

Subsection (3) overrides sections 24 to 30.

Section 23A: inserted, on 30 November 2022, by section 115 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 75).

Consequences of determination as returning prisoner

24 Returning prisoner subject to standard release conditions

(1)

A returning prisoner is subject to standard release conditions from the time of service on that person of a determination notice.

(2)

The period for which a returning prisoner is subject to standard release conditions is,—

(a)

if the relevant sentence is imprisonment for a term that is more than 1 year but not more than 2 years, 6 months:

(b)

if the relevant sentence is imprisonment for a term that is more than 2 years but not more than 5 years, 1 year:

(c)

if the relevant sentence is imprisonment for a term that is more than 5 years but is not a sentence of life imprisonment, 2 years:

(d)

if the relevant sentence is a sentence of life imprisonment, 5 years.

(3)

In subsection (2), sentence of life imprisonment—

(a)

means an indeterminate sentence under which a person is liable to imprisonment for the rest of his or her life following conviction for an offence; and

(b)

includes a sentence that is, or corresponds to, a sentence of preventive detention.

25 Returning prisoner must comply with standard release conditions

A returning prisoner must comply with the following conditions (the standard release conditions) during the period for which he or she is subject to release conditions:

(a)

the returning prisoner must report to a probation officer at the probation service centre stated in the determination notice as soon as practicable, and not later than 72 hours after service of the determination notice:

(b)

with all necessary modifications, the standard release conditions set out in section 14(1)(b) to (i) of the Parole Act.

Compare: 2002 No 10 s 14(1)

26 Returning prisoner must comply with special conditions imposed by court

(1)

A court may, on the application of the chief executive, impose 1 or more special conditions on a returning prisoner and the returning prisoner must comply with those conditions during the period for which those conditions are imposed.

(2)

A court must not impose a special condition for a longer period than the period for which the standard release conditions apply to the returning prisoner.

(3)

A court must not impose a special condition unless it is designed to—

(a)

reduce the risk of reoffending by the returning prisoner; or

(b)

facilitate or promote the rehabilitation and reintegration of the returning prisoner; or

(c)

provide for the reasonable concerns of victims of the returning prisoner.

(4)

The kinds of special conditions that the court may impose include, without limitation and with all necessary modifications, the conditions set out in section 15(3)(a) to (f) of the Parole Act.

(5)

If a court imposes a special condition that is—

(a)

an electronic monitoring condition, section 15A of the Parole Act applies with all necessary modifications:

(b)

a residential restriction, sections 33 to 36 of the Parole Act apply with all necessary modifications:

(c)

a drug or alcohol condition, sections 16A to 16E, 71A, 72A, and 74A to 74C, and any rules made under section 74A, of the Parole Act apply with all necessary modifications.

(6)

A court must not impose a special condition requiring the returning prisoner to take prescription medicine unless the returning prisoner—

(a)

has been fully advised, by a person who is qualified to prescribe that medication, about the nature and likely or intended effect of the medication and any known risks; and

(b)

consents to taking the prescription medication.

(7)

A returning prisoner does not breach his or her conditions for the purposes of section 31(1) if he or she withdraws consent to taking prescription medication.

Compare: 2002 No 10 s 15(1)–(3), (4), (5)

Section 26(5)(c): inserted, on 15 May 2017, by section 5 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 87).

27 Interim special conditions

(1)

A court may, on the application of the chief executive, impose 1 or more interim special conditions if the court is satisfied that, subject to section 26(3), the imposition of special conditions is immediately necessary from the time that a returning prisoner returns to New Zealand.

(2)

The chief executive may certify that the returning prisoner has a conviction for an offence in respect of conduct that would be a relevant sexual or violent offence for the purpose of Part 1A of the Parole Act in New Zealand, and that 1 or more interim special conditions is immediately necessary for any of the purposes specified in section 26(3), and in that case the court must impose that special condition or conditions unless it is satisfied that they are unnecessary.

(3)

For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), and to avoid doubt, a court may impose interim special conditions on the information that is then available to the court, even though that information is incomplete or additional information is still being sought.

(4)

The application may be made, and the conditions may be imposed, before or after the returning prisoner returns to New Zealand.

(5)

The application may be made without notice and a court must not require that notice be given.

(6)

Interim special conditions imposed under this section expire after 30 working days after the returning prisoner returns to New Zealand, but a court may extend the expiry of the conditions by a reasonable period to allow an application under section 26(1) to be finally determined.

28 Court may vary or discharge release conditions

(1)

A court may vary or discharge—

(a)

a special condition, on the application of a returning prisoner or a probation officer:

(b)

a standard release condition, on the application of a probation officer.

(2)

A court must not discharge a standard release condition with effect from a date that is less than 6 months after the date of service of the determination notice.

(3)

When a probation officer applies for the variation or discharge of a release condition, the probation officer may suspend the condition until the application is determined.

Compare: 2002 No 10 s 56

29 Effect of subsequent sentence of imprisonment

(1)

This section applies when a returning prisoner is—

(a)

subject to release conditions imposed under this Act; and

(b)

sentenced to a term of imprisonment in New Zealand beginning before the end of the period for which he or she is subject to release conditions under this Act (the subsequent sentence).

(2)

The release conditions imposed under this Act—

(a)

do not have effect for the period of imprisonment under the subsequent sentence; and

(b)

do not have effect to the extent that release conditions imposed in relation to the subsequent sentence apply; but

(c)

continue to run for purposes of the relevant period in section 24(2).

30 When release conditions end

Release conditions end when—

(a)

the period for which the returning prisoner is subject to release conditions expires; or

(b)

the release conditions are discharged; or

(c)

a public protection order is imposed on the returning prisoner under the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014; or

(d)

an extended supervision order is imposed on the returning prisoner under Part 1A of the Parole Act.

31 Offence to breach release conditions

(1)

A returning prisoner who is subject to a release condition under this Act and who, without reasonable excuse, breaches that condition commits an offence.

(2)

A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

Compare: 2002 No 10 s 71

Subpart 3—Returning offender who returns to New Zealand more than 6 months after release from custody

32 Who subpart applies to

(1)

This subpart applies to a returning offender who—

(a)

meets the criteria set out in section 17(1) for a returning prisoner, except that he or she is returning or has returned to New Zealand more than 6 months after his or her release from custody in prison; and

(b)

was, immediately before his or her return to New Zealand from the relevant overseas jurisdiction, subject to—

(i)

monitoring, supervision, or other conditions for the relevant sentence; or

(ii)

conditions imposed under an order in the nature of an extended supervision order or public protection order.

(2)

In subsection (1)(b), immediately before his or her return to New Zealand includes, if the offender was in detention immediately before his or her return to New Zealand, immediately before the offender was first so detained.

33 Court may impose conditions on returning offender

(1)

On the application of the chief executive, a court may impose any conditions on a returning offender to whom this subpart applies and must, if it does so, specify when the conditions end.

(2)

The court may impose conditions if it is satisfied that the conditions are—

(a)

necessary to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the returning offender; or

(b)

necessary to reduce the risk of reoffending by the returning offender; or

(c)

necessary for both purposes in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(3)

The conditions must not be imposed more than 6 months after the returning offender’s return to New Zealand.

34 Sections 26 to 31 apply to returning offender to whom this subpart applies

In relation to a returning offender to whom this subpart applies, sections 26 to 31 apply, with all necessary modifications, as if—

(a)

the returning offender were a returning prisoner; and

(b)

the reference in those provisions to a release condition or a special condition were a reference to a condition imposed under section 33(1).

34A Application to court to revoke conditions imposed if conviction overturned, or person pardoned, for overseas jurisdiction offence

(1)

The chief executive must make an application to a court to revoke conditions imposed under this subpart on a person if, after considering information provided by or on behalf of the person, the chief executive is satisfied—

(a)

that the person has been convicted in an overseas jurisdiction of an offence for conduct that constitutes an imprisonable offence in New Zealand; and

(b)

that the conditions were imposed under this subpart by a court in respect of the conviction; and

(c)

that the conviction has been overturned, or that the person has been pardoned for that overseas jurisdiction offence.

(2)

A court must revoke the conditions if, on an application made under this section by the chief executive, the court is satisfied of the matters specified in subsection (1)(a), (b), and (c).

(3)

This section does not limit any other power of a court to amend or revoke the conditions.

(4)

After the revocation, the person is no longer required to comply with any conditions imposed on the person by a court under section 33(1) because of the conviction.

(5)

Subsection (4) overrides sections 26 to 34.

Section 34A: inserted, on 30 November 2022, by section 116 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 75).

Subpart 4—Amendments to other Acts and review

[Repealed]

Subpart 4: repealed, on 28 February 2023, by section 8 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

35 Parole Act 2002 amended
[Repealed]

Section 35: repealed, on 28 February 2023, by section 8 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

36 Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014 amended
[Repealed]

Section 36: repealed, on 28 February 2023, by section 8 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

37 Review by select committee
[Repealed]

Section 37: repealed, on 28 February 2023, by section 8 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

Schedule 1 Transitional, savings, and related provisions

s 5

Part 1 Provisions relating to Act as enacted

1 No transitional, savings, or related provisions for Act as enacted

There are no transitional, savings, or related provisions for this Act, as enacted.

Part 2 Provisions relating to Returning Offenders (Management and Information) (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Amendment Act 2016

Schedule 1 Part 2: inserted, on 15 May 2017, by section 6 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 87).

2 Interpretation

In this Part,—

commencement date means the date on which the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Amendment Act 2016 comes into force

pre-commencement drug or alcohol condition means a condition—

(a)

that is imposed before the commencement date under section 26(1), 27(1), or 33(1); and

(b)

that prohibits a returning offender from doing 1 or more of the following:

(i)

using (as defined in section 4(1) of the Parole Act) a controlled drug:

(ii)

using a psychoactive substance:

(iii)

consuming alcohol.

Schedule 1 clause 2: inserted, on 15 May 2017, by section 6 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 87).

3 Testing and monitoring of returning offender subject to pre-commencement drug or alcohol condition

(1)

This clause applies if a returning offender is subject to a pre-commencement drug or alcohol condition.

(2)

On and from the commencement date, sections 16B to 16E, 71A, 72A, 74A, and 74B, and any rules made under section 74A, of the Parole Act apply in respect of the returning offender—

(a)

as if the pre-commencement drug or alcohol condition were a drug or alcohol condition imposed by a court on or after the commencement date; and

(b)

as if the court had complied with section 16A(3) of the Parole Act in respect of the condition.

Schedule 1 clause 3: inserted, on 15 May 2017, by section 6 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 87).

Part 3 Provisions relating to Oranga Tamariki Legislation Act 2019

Schedule 1 Part 3: inserted, on 1 July 2019, by section 52 of the Oranga Tamariki Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 30).

4 Commencement

This Part comes into force on the date on which section 39 of the Oranga Tamariki Legislation Act 2019 comes into force.

Schedule 1 clause 4: inserted, on 1 July 2019, by section 52 of the Oranga Tamariki Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 30).

5 Application of Part 1 of Schedule 1AA of Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995 to certain returning offenders

(1)

For the purpose stated in section 14(1) of this Act, Part 1 of Schedule 1AA of the 1995 Act applies to a person aged 17 years—

(a)

with all necessary modifications; and

(b)

subject to the exclusions in subclause (2).

(2)

Clauses 4(1)(a) and (b), 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 of Schedule 1AA of the 1995 Act are excluded from the application of subclause (1).

Schedule 1 clause 5: inserted, on 1 July 2019, by section 52 of the Oranga Tamariki Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 30).

Part 4 Provisions relating to Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023

Schedule 1 Part 4: inserted, on 28 February 2023, by section 9 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

6 Interpretation

In this Part, Amendment Act means the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023.

Schedule 1 clause 6: inserted, on 28 February 2023, by section 9 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

7 Application of amendments

(1)

The amendments made by the Amendment Act apply only to conduct after the Amendment Act’s commencement.

(2)

However, this clause is subject to clauses 8 and 9.

Schedule 1 clause 7: inserted, on 28 February 2023, by section 9 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

8 Validations of specified conduct and specified determinations
Validation of specified conduct

(1)

Conduct by a person or court that is invalid is validated if—

(a)

the conduct was purportedly done or omitted under a provision of this Act after this Act’s commencement and before the Amendment Act’s commencement; and

(b)

the conduct would have been valid had the Amendment Act been in force when the conduct occurred.

(2)

The conduct is validated from when it occurred.

(3)

Examples of conduct that may be validated by subclause (1) are—

(a)

making, amending, revoking, or revoking and replacing, a determination or other decision:

(b)

requesting a person to provide identifying particulars and taking them if the person provides them in response to a request, detaining the person (using reasonable force if necessary) if the person refuses, taking the identifying particulars of a person who has been detained for the purpose of taking them, giving a direction related to exercising those powers, or entering, recording, and storing on a Police information recording system the identifying particulars of a person that are provided in response to a request or otherwise taken:

(c)

issuing, amending, revoking, revoking and replacing, or serving a notice (for example, a databank compulsion notice under section 14, or a determination notice):

(d)

applying for, issuing, or executing a warrant for entry to any premises to serve a determination notice:

(e)

applying for, imposing, varying, discharging, or revoking a standard release condition or a special condition (which, in this clause, includes, without limitation, a condition imposed under section 33(1) and to which sections 26 to 31 apply under section 34):

(f)

suspending under section 28(3) a standard release condition or a special condition:

(g)

administering a standard release condition or a special condition (for example, monitoring compliance with a standard release condition or a special condition, and investigating and prosecuting an offence of breaching a standard release condition or a special condition):

(h)

reviewing under section 22 a determination under section 17:

(i)

doing, or omitting to do, any other act or omission mentioned in, or otherwise necessary for carrying out, or giving full effect to, the provision.

Validation of specified determinations

(4)

A determination that is invalid is validated if—

(a)

the determination was purportedly made under section 17 of this Act after this Act’s commencement and before the Amendment Act’s commencement; and

(b)

the determination would be valid if the person determined to be a returning prisoner had been provided with notice and a right to be heard before the determination was made.

(5)

The determination is validated from when it was made.

Exception to validations

(6)

However, this clause is subject to clause 9.

Schedule 1 clause 8: inserted, on 28 February 2023, by section 9 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

9 Exception for particular applicant and decision as it relates to them

The validations in clause 8 do not—

(a)

apply to the particular applicant in G v Commissioner of Police [2022] NZHC 3514 (whose effect was stayed, for persons other than the particular applicant, by an interim order made in G v Commissioner of Police [2022] NZHC 3628); or

(b)

affect that judgment as it relates to that applicant; or

(c)

affect any party’s rights of appeal in respect of that judgment.

Schedule 1 clause 9: inserted, on 28 February 2023, by section 9 of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3).

Notes
1 General

This is a consolidation of the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Act 2015 that incorporates the amendments made to the legislation so that it shows the law as at its stated date.

2 Legal status

A consolidation is taken to correctly state, as at its stated date, the law enacted or made by the legislation consolidated and by the amendments. This presumption applies unless the contrary is shown.

Section 78 of the Legislation Act 2019 provides that this consolidation, published as an electronic version, is an official version. A printed version of legislation that is produced directly from this official electronic version is also an official version.

3 Editorial and format changes

The Parliamentary Counsel Office makes editorial and format changes to consolidations using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019. See also PCO editorial conventions for consolidations.

4 Amendments incorporated in this consolidation

Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 3)

Statutes Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 75): Part 37

Oranga Tamariki Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 30): Part 2 subpart 7

Customs and Excise Act 2018 (2018 No 4): section 443(3)

Returning Offenders (Management and Information) (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 87)