The Government is satisfied most parole conditions are correctly monitored, in spite of the case of Auckland triple murderer William Duane Bell.
Corrections Minister Mark Gosche last week ordered an inquiry into claims that Bell, convicted last week of murdering three people at a South Auckland Returned Services' Association last year, had slipped through the probation system.
Suggestions that Bell was not fulfilling parole conditions before he bashed his three victims to death were aired in Parliament today.
Bell was released from prison in June last year, part-way through a five-year sentence for robbery.
He would have been required to meet parole conditions when released.
In the absence of Mr Gosche, cabinet minister Margaret Wilson faced questions over whether the Government was satisfied with parole board decisions. She said Mr Gosche was not responsible for board decisions, only for ensuring parole conditions were "actioned appropriately".
"I am satisfied that in most cases this occurs," she said, adding that 2393 inmates were released in the last financial year.
Asked by United Future MP Marc Alexander how Bell - who had a long list of convictions - could be given parole to murder three people, Ms Wilson would not comment. No comment would be made on the case until Mr Gosche had received his urgent report, and Bell had been through sentencing and appeal processes.
Labour had introduced new parole restrictions, she said. Under previous legislation, special conditions could be imposed on an offender's parole only if released before the designated final release date.
"Offenders can now be held right up to their final release date and we can still then have special conditions imposed on their release," she said.
- NZPA
Government satisfied with parole
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