In wake of the Juliana Herrera tragedy, Corrections reveal vast network of facilities in residential Christchurch
This edition covers Corrections' residential housing policy, the Willis review, and Corrections and The Parole Board's potential liability. Note: nothing in this article constitutes legal advice.
In the wake of the tragic death of Juliana Bonilla Herrera in 2022 in her Addington flat, Corrections has revealed it operates a network of 30 residential facilities and works with other informal accommodation providers in metropolitan Christchurch. Twenty-three (or more than two-thirds) of the residential facilities were in “a housing complex setting.” “None of these complexes…are owned by Kainga Ora or the Otautahi Community Housing Trust.”
Pictured: The Grove Road flat, Addington.
Herrera’s killer, a convicted rapist and kidnapper, Joseph James Brader, was housed beside her in an adjoining flat that had been contracted by Corrections. There was a suppression order in place preventing the publication of the contracted provider’s name. Corrections have confirmed the Grove Road flat “is not currently being used by a person on sentence with Corrections.” “As it currently stands, the provider’s policy is now to only accommodate women at the address.”
“Corrections makes assessments based on available information as to the suitability of a person residing in high density or adjoining properties. There are 30 properties across the three contracted providers. Of these 30 properties, there are 23 properties which are situated in a housing complex setting.”
Corrections letter, 3 March 2023
Corrections says the housing providers “support people on community-based sentences or orders with accommodation and other wrap around reintegrative support services” and “works alongside a range of noncontracted residential providers to source transitional and long-term accommodation for people leaving prison or who are subject to community-based sentences. Having stable accommodation is a critical factor in reducing reoffending.”
Corrections has engaged psychologist Dr Gwenda Willis to review its community notification policy - a policy that has been in the spotlight since the murder and fall out. “Corrections makes assessments based on available information as to the suitability of a person residing in high density or adjoining properties”.
In the case of Joseph James Braders’ placement beside Herrera, Brader’s criminal offending and violent background was not made known to Herrera; Corrections also knew he was at medium-to-high risk of reoffending. Now, the Parole Board has alleged Corrections told them there was no bed for Brader with an alternative provider, the Salisbury Trust, when in fact one was available.
As previously reported, Stephen Todd, a UC Law School negligence expert, offered some observations about Corrections and the Parole Board’s liability “to the victim and/or the family of the victim, whether a breach occurred, and the likely compensation”.
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