CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses domestic violence.
Serious domestic violence perpetrators granted bail in New South Wales will now be subjected to around-the-clock monitoring while they wait for conviction in an effort to protect victim-survivors of domestic violence.
As of October 11, alleged perpetrators who are charged but not yet convicted of serious domestic violence crimes will be required to wear electronic monitoring bracelets. These bracelets, which are fitted with GPS technology, allow NSW Corrective Services to track their location and alert police if the perpetrator violates their bail conditions by going to certain locations, like a victim’s home, school and workplace.
“Domestic and family violence disproportionately affects women, so it’s vital for the NSW Government to continue implementing reforms like this to better protect at-risk women across the community,” NSW women’s safety commissioner Hannah Tonkin said.
“These changes will give victim-survivors of domestic and family violence greater peace of mind and support their safety planning while the matter is dealt with in the courts.”
The recent changes are the result of a bunch of reforms introduced by Premier Chris Minns back in May, after significant public rage over multiple women dying from domestic violence-related crimes, including the tragic death of 28-year-old Molly Ticehurst, who was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend two weeks after he faced court over charges of rape and intimidation.
These reforms include making it harder for those accused to be released on bail by enforcing bail decisions to only be made by judges and magistrates. They also now must consider the domestic abuse factors and the perspective of the victim and family members.
“It’s harder now for alleged domestic violence offenders to get bail, but if they do, these new monitoring devices ensure Corrective Services will be able to keep an eye on their movements,” Deputy Premier Prue Car explained.
Women’s Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin believes that the reforms will “better protect at-risk women across the community.”
“These changes will give victim-survivors of domestic and family violence greater peace of mind and support their safety planning while the matter is dealt with in the courts,” she said.
Although location monitoring devices have been used in tracking domestic violence perpetrators in NSW since 2016, they’ve only been used in a limited capacity.
There are currently 1100 people being monitored by the Corrective Services team who keep an eye on their location in real time. If the alleged offender enters an area they’re not supposed to, police are notified immediately.
“The expansion of our existing electronic monitoring system allows us to track serious alleged domestic violence offenders,” the acting commissioner of Corrective Services Leon Taylor said, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
“If we hold concerns for a person in need of protection, the Corrections team will be able to pick up the phone and alert them to a potential bail breach in real-time, allowing them to enact their safety plan.”
According to Destroy The Joint — a community activist group — 54 women have been killed by violence in Australia this year.
Help is available.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
If you’d like to speak to someone about domestic violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
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