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Sentencing Act 2002

Sentencing purposes and principles, and provisions of general application - Sentencing procedure

26A: Pre-sentence reports when considering sentence of community detention or home detention

You could also call this:

"Getting a report before the judge decides on community or home detention"

Illustration for Sentencing Act 2002

When you are in court and the judge is thinking about giving you a sentence of community detention or home detention, the court will ask a probation officer to write a report. The report will include information about where you will live during your sentence and if it is safe for you and the people living there. The probation officer will also ask you if you agree to the conditions of your sentence.

Before the probation officer writes the report, they will talk to the people living where you will stay during your sentence. They will tell these people about your past and what you did wrong, so they can decide if they want you to stay with them. The probation officer will also ask these people for their permission for you to stay with them.

The court uses a pre-sentence report to help decide your sentence, and it can include information from section 26(2). The report must include information about the people living where you will stay and if they agree to you staying with them. If you are given a sentence of community detention or home detention, the court will consider the information in the report when making their decision, and section 26(3), (4), and (5) will also apply to your case.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM135582.

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26: Pre-sentence reports, or

"Reports to help the court decide your sentence"

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Part 1Sentencing purposes and principles, and provisions of general application
Sentencing procedure

26APre-sentence reports when considering sentence of community detention or home detention

  1. If the court is considering a sentence of community detention or home detention, the court must direct a probation officer to prepare a pre-sentence report for the court in accordance with subsection (2).

  2. If a probation officer intends to recommend to the court a sentence of community detention or home detention, the probation officer must prepare a pre-sentence report in accordance with subsection (2) and provide it to the court.

  3. A pre-sentence report to which subsection (1) or (1A) applies may include any of the matters outlined in section 26(2), and must include—

  4. information regarding the suitability of the proposed curfew address or home detention residence, including the safety and welfare of the occupants of the proposed curfew address or home detention residence; and
    1. in the case of a sentence of community detention, confirmation that the offender consents to the conditions of the sentence and the proposed curfew period; and
      1. in the case of a sentence of home detention, confirmation that the offender consents to the standard detention conditions and any special conditions recommended by the probation officer or that the court has indicated it is considering imposing.

        1. Before completing a report that covers the matters in subsection (2), the probation officer must—

        2. ensure that every relevant occupant of the proposed curfew address or home detention residence, as the case may be, is aware of the nature of the offender's past and current offending; and
          1. tell every relevant occupant that the reason for giving that information is to enable the occupant to make an informed decision about whether to consent to the offender remaining at the curfew address during the curfew period, or at the home detention residence while serving the sentence of home detention, as the case may be; and
            1. tell every relevant occupant that the information provided about the offender must not be used for any purpose other than that described in paragraph (b); and
              1. obtain the consent of every relevant occupant to the offender remaining at the curfew address during the curfew period, or at the home detention residence while serving the sentence of home detention, as the case may be; and
                1. inform every relevant occupant that they may withdraw their consent, at any time, to the offender serving the sentence at the curfew address or in the home detention residence, as the case may be.

                  1. In subsection (3), relevant occupant means,—

                  2. in relation to a residence that the probation officer is considering as a home detention residence,—
                    1. if the residence is a family residence, every person of or over the age of 16 who ordinarily lives there; and
                      1. in the case of any other residence, every person whom the probation officer identifies as being a relevant occupant for the purposes of subsection (3); or
                      2. in relation to an address that the probation officer is considering as a curfew address,—
                        1. if the address is a residence, every person referred to in paragraph (a)(i) and (ii); and
                          1. in the case of any other place, the person or persons whom the probation officer identifies as being authorised to give consent for the purposes of subsection (3).

                          2. Section 26(3), (4), and (5) apply, with any necessary modifications, to a report prepared under this section.

                          Notes
                          • Section 26A: inserted, on , by section 14 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).
                          • Section 26A heading: amended, on , by section 16(1) of the Administration of Community Sentences and Orders Act 2013 (2013 No 88).
                          • Section 26A(1): replaced, on , by section 16(2) of the Administration of Community Sentences and Orders Act 2013 (2013 No 88).
                          • Section 26A(1A): inserted, on , by section 16(2) of the Administration of Community Sentences and Orders Act 2013 (2013 No 88).
                          • Section 26A(2): amended, on , by section 16(3) of the Administration of Community Sentences and Orders Act 2013 (2013 No 88).
                          • Section 26A(5): inserted, on , by section 16(4) of the Administration of Community Sentences and Orders Act 2013 (2013 No 88).