The Department of Corrections says the rise in absconding was likely due to the increase in the number of people being granted EM bail. Photo \/ Greg Bowker<\/p>\n
Chief Victims Adviser Ruth Money<\/a> said the increase in absconding cases was a very concerning trend.<\/p>\n She said bail was already a very emotional and anxiety-inducing time for victims.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you have someone, who is supposed to be safe, because they are being monitored, it is absolutely terrifying when you hear these statistics and learn that people are absconding.\u201d<\/p>\n Money was particularly worried about the amount of time it took for the offenders to be found and apprehended again.<\/p>\n She expected police would act swiftly in most cases, but wanted certainty. <\/p>\n \u201cIf someone is wanting to hide and they don\u2019t have their bracelet on then it is very difficult for police to find them. They are the most significant and serious cases that we are concerned about.\u201d<\/p>\n Money said court delays meant more offenders were being put on monitored bail \u2013 and the absconding rate proved the system isn\u2019t working.<\/p>\n Defence lawyer Steve Cullen said it was a difficult phenomenon to explain.<\/p>\n He said it could be down to any combination of causes, including social media, gangs, and social influences.<\/p>\n \u201cEither EM bail is being given to a broader spectrum of people that it wasn\u2019t before or those on EM bail are less likely to be compliant than they were in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n He said it wasn\u2019t an easy problem to solve, and pointed to the fact that EM bail was still working in 85% of cases.<\/p>\n \u201cDo we bring a melon to break a walnut and somehow tighten up on EM bail?\u201d<\/p>\n But Cullen said the biggest difference could be made by properly resourcing enforcement.<\/p>\n \u201cIf people knew that they were going to be reported and apprehended quickly they\u2019d be less likely to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Department of Corrections said the rise in absconding was likely due to the increase in the number of people being granted EM bail.<\/p>\nChief victims advocate Ruth Money says the absconding statistics are ‘absolutely terrifying’ for victims. Photo \/ Dean Purcell.<\/p>\n