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Community Correctional Services

As part of Corrections Victoria, Community Correctional Services (CCS) aims to provide a flexible range of supervision options for offenders which are tailored to address the causes of offending behaviour and to reduce the risk of re-offending. Through CCS, Court Services Units (CSU) works closely with the courts to ensure offenders sentenced to community based dispositions will be appropriately managed depending on their needs and risk.

CCS officers based at the courts are trained to provide prosecutorial services in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria with regard to breaches of community based dispositions and provide expert advice on matters relating to community based dispositions.

The following are the range of services offered by the CSU:

Assessment of adult offenders to determine eligibility for community based dispositions

Assessments are provided at the request of the court and result in the provision of recommendations for suitability for community based dispositions and any associated recommended program conditions based on individual offender specific needs.

Pre-sentence Reports to assist in considering appropriate program conditions

Pre-sentence Reports provide a detailed in depth report of the offender’s social history, past and present circumstances, including information about the offence and suitability for a community based disposition.

Verbal or written advice pertaining to the progress of offenders subject to current orders

The CSU team provides information on request, as to the current status of offenders serving community based dispositions, including parolees appearing before the court as a result of further offending.

Prosecution of offenders who breach orders supervised by CCS

If an offender breaches a court order supervised by CCS, the CSU will prosecute the defendant from any CCS location within Victoria. The Melbourne-based unit often coordinates breach proceedings as negotiated with either magistrates or legal representatives, by arranging consolidations to expedite breach proceedings.

 

Further information may be obtained from the Magistrates' Court of Victoria Guide to Court Support and Diversion Services on this website or by contacting the CSU on the telephone number below.