COMMUNITY BASED CORRECTIONS
Introduction
This brief is to basically inform you of the CBC Branch’s statutory responsibilities it administers within the Department of Justice. I am sure with you will have already have a fair idea of the roles and functions that CBC administers as a ‘Branch” providing appropriate supervision of offenders (adult & juveniles) placed on non custodial sentences by the Courts and the Parole Board throughout the country.
Statutory Responsibilities
CBC administers the following functions;
Probation Act 1979 (amended) 1990. Supervision of offenders placed on Probation by the courts;
Parole Act 1991 Supervision of prisoners granted parole by the Parole Board under the supervision of CBC;
Criminal Compensation Act 1991 Investigate Means for Payment of Compensation ordered by the courts;
Juvenile Court Act 1991 Administration of the Juvenile Court Act and Coordination of Juvenile Justice Reforms in the country;
Release On Licence Program This program has been put on halt due to a Court Order issued by CANNINGS, J in the National Court of Justice (MP NO 176 OF 2007) on the 10 August, 2007 in Kimbe and on the 31st July, 2008 at Waigani.
Juvenile Justice:
The Juvenile Justice Reform program commenced soon after Cabinet endorsed the gazettal of the entire provisions of the Juvenile Court Act 1991 in 2003. This gave effect to the legislation to be implemented by the authorities responsible.
A National Juvenile Justice Committee (NJJC) was also established which is chaired by the Department as lead agency is coordinating the reform program. The secretariat duties is provided by CBC in coordinating the roll out of the JJ reform program.
The cooperation and active participation of the member agencies in the NJJC had seen significant progress in the area of juvenile justice. Appropriate training and awareness programs have been conducted in the 4 regions, however we are yet to complete the Highlands (Mendi/Wabag) and Southern (Kerema/Daru/Kiunga) region.
I have attached here copy of the 2008 National Juvenile Justice Report to give you a fair idea of the input made by the NJJC including the Department for that matter to improve processes and systems towards the administration of juvenile justice in the country.
The 2009 Report is now in draft form and should be finalized by 1st Quarter of 2011.
The other priority activity task CBC undertook was to coordinate the review of the Juvenile Court Act, 1991. The JJ technical committee with the assistance of the legal drafts man has recently completed the 2nd draft of the revised JJ bill (A copy is also attached here for ease of reference). The bill appears to be in good shape and is close to final.
The CBC Branch plans to complete all requirements of the process by end of the 1st quarter, 2011 and hopefully have the bill passed in Parliament early 2011.
Parole Board
The Parole Board is appointed by the Minister for Justice & Attorney General. The members of the PB are appointed for a term of 3 years and may be considered for re appointment after their term expires. The current PB Chairman is, namely, Sir Kubulan Los (Retired Judge) while the other members are; Mr Peni Keris Executive Director for Village Courts Services and Ms Molly Moihau Assistant Commissioner for Southern Region, Department of Correctional Services.
The PB members were appointed in December, 2008. Their term of appointment will expire in December, 2011.
The primary role of the PB as mandated under the Parole Act 1991 is to consider cases of detainees who are eligible for parole and grant orders for the release of detainees on parole where appropriate. The PB is an independent board and makes its independent decision after having receiving pre parole report (PPR) from CBC officers and Detainee Assessment report (DAR) from Correctional Services Parole Clerks and other supporting and relevant documents from churches, doctors etc.
It is only after considering all the appropriate confirmed reports that the Parole Board makes its independent decision.
The next priority activity for CBC to undertake is to review the Parole Act, 1991. This task is planned for the 2nd quarter of 2011.
Staff Ceiling
In regard to the staff ceiling; CBC has an approved staff ceiling of 60 positions since 2001. However, we have been operating on a reduced number on-strength over the past years. On or about May, 2009, a major re organizational structure of the Department was undertaken. During this process, the DJAG approved a total of 66 positions for advertisement for the Branch. An additional 6 position was allocated on top of the current 60 which we indeed appreciate particularly within this complex organization.
Of the current 66 positions, about a third is management positions here at Garden City while the rest make-up the field officers positions in the provinces.
For the major towns like NCD, Lae, Kokopo and Hagen, the maximum number of officers allocated to the office is 3 which is still considered as less considering the geographical part of the province. However, consideration must be also given to all provinces in the country to provide the required services to the people.
At present, other provincial centers realize one or two officers at any one time in a office. At least 1 or 2 positions are allocated to a provincial or district office is better than nothing.
It has always being a challenge for CBC for managing its 22 offices while at the same time coordinating the juvenile justice reforms on behalf of the Department and the Government for that matter. Obviously, appropriate strategies would be put in place and for provinces to demonstrate what they are capable for doing before they realized the limited resources provided to CBC.
Summary
You will realize that CBC & Juvenile Justice Branch is the national frontline service provider in the criminal justice system. The biggest branch within the Department of Justice and carries the name of DJAG in the province and at district level in the absence of other Branches.
The administration and management of CBC and Juvenile Justice Operations throughout the country had indeed being a challenge for CBC over the past years and will continue to be challenge for the future.
Since the government’s direction now is focused on service delivery at district level, the CBC Branch will place greater efforts at District level (established offices) and provincial offices as well in line with the governments direction; and for the sake of the executing CBC’s statutory responsibilities particularly aimed for the ordinary and the many vulnerable people caught in the Criminal Justice System without any idea of the system in the first place.
Community Based Corrections is a Division of the Department of Justice & Attorney General.
Community Based Corrections (formerly known as Probation and Parole
Service) provides a number of rehabilitation programs for offenders and advice to the courts and the Parole Board.
Programs that Community Based Corrections supervises include:
1 Probation
2 Parole
3 Juvenile Offenders
4 Community Work
5 Criminal Law Compensation
CBC also provides counseling and community education services.
For further Information on community based corrections programs contact:
This brief is to basically inform you of the CBC Branch’s statutory responsibilities it administers within the Department of Justice. I am sure with you will have already have a fair idea of the roles and functions that CBC administers as a ‘Branch” providing appropriate supervision of offenders (adult & juveniles) placed on non custodial sentences by the Courts and the Parole Board throughout the country.
Statutory Responsibilities
CBC administers the following functions;
Probation Act 1979 (amended) 1990. Supervision of offenders placed on Probation by the courts;
Parole Act 1991 Supervision of prisoners granted parole by the Parole Board under the supervision of CBC;
Criminal Compensation Act 1991 Investigate Means for Payment of Compensation ordered by the courts;
Juvenile Court Act 1991 Administration of the Juvenile Court Act and Coordination of Juvenile Justice Reforms in the country;
Release On Licence Program This program has been put on halt due to a Court Order issued by CANNINGS, J in the National Court of Justice (MP NO 176 OF 2007) on the 10 August, 2007 in Kimbe and on the 31st July, 2008 at Waigani.
Juvenile Justice:
The Juvenile Justice Reform program commenced soon after Cabinet endorsed the gazettal of the entire provisions of the Juvenile Court Act 1991 in 2003. This gave effect to the legislation to be implemented by the authorities responsible.
A National Juvenile Justice Committee (NJJC) was also established which is chaired by the Department as lead agency is coordinating the reform program. The secretariat duties is provided by CBC in coordinating the roll out of the JJ reform program.
The cooperation and active participation of the member agencies in the NJJC had seen significant progress in the area of juvenile justice. Appropriate training and awareness programs have been conducted in the 4 regions, however we are yet to complete the Highlands (Mendi/Wabag) and Southern (Kerema/Daru/Kiunga) region.
I have attached here copy of the 2008 National Juvenile Justice Report to give you a fair idea of the input made by the NJJC including the Department for that matter to improve processes and systems towards the administration of juvenile justice in the country.
The 2009 Report is now in draft form and should be finalized by 1st Quarter of 2011.
The other priority activity task CBC undertook was to coordinate the review of the Juvenile Court Act, 1991. The JJ technical committee with the assistance of the legal drafts man has recently completed the 2nd draft of the revised JJ bill (A copy is also attached here for ease of reference). The bill appears to be in good shape and is close to final.
The CBC Branch plans to complete all requirements of the process by end of the 1st quarter, 2011 and hopefully have the bill passed in Parliament early 2011.
Parole Board
The Parole Board is appointed by the Minister for Justice & Attorney General. The members of the PB are appointed for a term of 3 years and may be considered for re appointment after their term expires. The current PB Chairman is, namely, Sir Kubulan Los (Retired Judge) while the other members are; Mr Peni Keris Executive Director for Village Courts Services and Ms Molly Moihau Assistant Commissioner for Southern Region, Department of Correctional Services.
The PB members were appointed in December, 2008. Their term of appointment will expire in December, 2011.
The primary role of the PB as mandated under the Parole Act 1991 is to consider cases of detainees who are eligible for parole and grant orders for the release of detainees on parole where appropriate. The PB is an independent board and makes its independent decision after having receiving pre parole report (PPR) from CBC officers and Detainee Assessment report (DAR) from Correctional Services Parole Clerks and other supporting and relevant documents from churches, doctors etc.
It is only after considering all the appropriate confirmed reports that the Parole Board makes its independent decision.
The next priority activity for CBC to undertake is to review the Parole Act, 1991. This task is planned for the 2nd quarter of 2011.
Staff Ceiling
In regard to the staff ceiling; CBC has an approved staff ceiling of 60 positions since 2001. However, we have been operating on a reduced number on-strength over the past years. On or about May, 2009, a major re organizational structure of the Department was undertaken. During this process, the DJAG approved a total of 66 positions for advertisement for the Branch. An additional 6 position was allocated on top of the current 60 which we indeed appreciate particularly within this complex organization.
Of the current 66 positions, about a third is management positions here at Garden City while the rest make-up the field officers positions in the provinces.
For the major towns like NCD, Lae, Kokopo and Hagen, the maximum number of officers allocated to the office is 3 which is still considered as less considering the geographical part of the province. However, consideration must be also given to all provinces in the country to provide the required services to the people.
At present, other provincial centers realize one or two officers at any one time in a office. At least 1 or 2 positions are allocated to a provincial or district office is better than nothing.
It has always being a challenge for CBC for managing its 22 offices while at the same time coordinating the juvenile justice reforms on behalf of the Department and the Government for that matter. Obviously, appropriate strategies would be put in place and for provinces to demonstrate what they are capable for doing before they realized the limited resources provided to CBC.
Summary
You will realize that CBC & Juvenile Justice Branch is the national frontline service provider in the criminal justice system. The biggest branch within the Department of Justice and carries the name of DJAG in the province and at district level in the absence of other Branches.
The administration and management of CBC and Juvenile Justice Operations throughout the country had indeed being a challenge for CBC over the past years and will continue to be challenge for the future.
Since the government’s direction now is focused on service delivery at district level, the CBC Branch will place greater efforts at District level (established offices) and provincial offices as well in line with the governments direction; and for the sake of the executing CBC’s statutory responsibilities particularly aimed for the ordinary and the many vulnerable people caught in the Criminal Justice System without any idea of the system in the first place.
Community Based Corrections is a Division of the Department of Justice & Attorney General.
Community Based Corrections (formerly known as Probation and Parole
Service) provides a number of rehabilitation programs for offenders and advice to the courts and the Parole Board.
Programs that Community Based Corrections supervises include:
1 Probation
2 Parole
3 Juvenile Offenders
4 Community Work
5 Criminal Law Compensation
CBC also provides counseling and community education services.
For further Information on community based corrections programs contact:
Executive Director
Community Based Corrections
P.O. Box 4423 Boroko NCD
Phone: 325 2209
Fax : 311 2881
Provincial Centres:
National Capital District/Central
P.O. Box 7752, Boroko, N.C.D.
Phone: 325 2731
Fax : 325 2731
Eastern Highlands
P.O. Box 956, GOROKA
Phone: 532 2346
Fax : 532 2346
District Office
P.O. Box 252, KAINANTU
East New Britain
P.O. Box 1755, RABAUL Phone: 982 8846 Fax : 982 8846
East Sepik
P.O. Box 1027, WEWAK
Phone: 856 1013
Fax : 856 1013
District Office
P.O. Box 323, Maprik
Gulf
P.O. Box 92, KEREMA
Phone:
Fax :
Enga
P.O. Box 231, WABAG
Phone:
Fax :
Madang
P.O. Box 947, MADANG
Phone: 852 3218
Fax : 852 3218
Manus
P.O. Box 76, LORENGAU
Phone: 470 9357
Fax : 470 9357
Milne Bay
P.O. Box 201, ALOTAU
Phone: 641 1501
Fax : 641 1501
Southern Highlands
P.O. Box 449, MENDI
Email: cbc@justice.gov.pg
juvenile_justice@justice.gov.pg
Community Based Corrections
P.O. Box 4423 Boroko NCD
Phone: 325 2209
Fax : 311 2881
Provincial Centres:
National Capital District/Central
P.O. Box 7752, Boroko, N.C.D.
Phone: 325 2731
Fax : 325 2731
Eastern Highlands
P.O. Box 956, GOROKA
Phone: 532 2346
Fax : 532 2346
District Office
P.O. Box 252, KAINANTU
East New Britain
P.O. Box 1755, RABAUL Phone: 982 8846 Fax : 982 8846
East Sepik
P.O. Box 1027, WEWAK
Phone: 856 1013
Fax : 856 1013
District Office
P.O. Box 323, Maprik
Gulf
P.O. Box 92, KEREMA
Phone:
Fax :
Enga
P.O. Box 231, WABAG
Phone:
Fax :
Madang
P.O. Box 947, MADANG
Phone: 852 3218
Fax : 852 3218
Manus
P.O. Box 76, LORENGAU
Phone: 470 9357
Fax : 470 9357
Milne Bay
P.O. Box 201, ALOTAU
Phone: 641 1501
Fax : 641 1501
Southern Highlands
P.O. Box 449, MENDI
Email: cbc@justice.gov.pg
juvenile_justice@justice.gov.pg
Oro
P.O. Box 73, POPONDETTA
Phone: 329 7323
Fax : 329 7323
Simbu
P.O. Box 791, KUNDIAWA
Phone: 535 1149
Fax : 535 1149
Sandaun
P.O. Box 338, VANIMO
Phone: 857 1749
Fax : 857 1749
Western
P.O. Box DARU
Phone:
Fax :
Western Highlands
P.O. Box 449, MT HAGEN
Phone: 542 1302
Fax : 542 1302
West New Britain
P.O. Box 52, KIMBE
Phone: 983 5069
Fax : 983 5069
P.O. Box 73, POPONDETTA
Phone: 329 7323
Fax : 329 7323
Simbu
P.O. Box 791, KUNDIAWA
Phone: 535 1149
Fax : 535 1149
Sandaun
P.O. Box 338, VANIMO
Phone: 857 1749
Fax : 857 1749
Western
P.O. Box DARU
Phone:
Fax :
Western Highlands
P.O. Box 449, MT HAGEN
Phone: 542 1302
Fax : 542 1302
West New Britain
P.O. Box 52, KIMBE
Phone: 983 5069
Fax : 983 5069