A report identifying the very successful outcomes of Tasmania’s trial of electronic monitoring of family violence perpetrators, Project Vigilance, has been tabled in the Tasmanian Parliament today.
The Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management (DPFEM) commissioned the Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies (TILES) to undertake a series of evaluations of the implementation of Project Vigilance.
The report makes a number of recommendations, including that the electronic monitoring of family violence offenders continues and that the program be expanded to include medium risk offenders.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has committed $2.4 million to continue and expand the scope of electronic monitoring of family violence offenders.
This follows a successful joint trial between Tasmania Police and the Department of Justice which demonstrated:
o 76% decrease of high-risk incidents;
o 75% reduction of assaults;
o 81% reduction of threats;
o 74% reduction in property damage;
o 100% decrease in reports of stalking; and
o 80% of offenders did not re-offend in 6 months following the removal of the electronic monitoring device.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to eliminating family violence, which is why we have committed $2.4 million to maintain electronic monitoring of high risk family violence offenders.