Supervised release order

When you are sentenced to detention, you must spend 50–70% of your detention order in a youth detention centre. The rest of your sentence is spent back in the community under supervision, on a supervised release order.

The purpose of the supervised release order is to:

• supervise you for a period of time after your release from detention
• help and support you to re-integrate into your family and community.

Most young people sentenced to detention spend 70% of their order in detention and 30% in the community under a supervised release order.

What do I have to do as part of my supervised release order?

• You must not break the law.
• You must satisfactorily attend programs as directed by your caseworker.
• You must comply with every reasonable direction of your caseworker.
• You must report to a youth justice worker and receive visits as directed by your caseworker.
• You or your parent or carer must tell your caseworker if you change address, school or job. You must do this within 2 business days.
• If you want to leave Queensland while on a supervised release order, you must first get permission from a youth justice worker.

Sometimes the department will add other conditions to your supervised release order. This happens when you have been assessed as needing extra supervision, counselling or support. You must follow these conditions.

A supervised release order may also contain a condition that you must follow even when you are outside Queensland.

What does a supervised release order involve?

Before you are released from detention, you’ll meet with your detention centre caseworker, youth justice caseworker and transition officer about your supervised release order. Your parent or carer will also be invited. At the meeting you will talk about:

• a plan to prepare for your release
• the conditions and activities for the supervised release order and support plan
• when and how often you will need to report during the supervised release period
• when you will first have to report to your caseworker on release.

At the end of the meeting, you will be asked to sign your supervised release order.

When do I report for my order?

When you first come out of detention, you must meet with a youth justice caseworker. Your parent or carer can come to this meeting.

During the meeting your caseworker and a team leader will:

• explain what the order says you must do (requirements)
• tell you what days you must report
• tell you what programs you must attend
• talk with you about what help you might need to follow the order.

Once you understand the conditions of your order, you must follow them while you are on supervised release.

What will happen if I don’t follow the conditions of my order?

Your caseworker will talk to you if you don’t follow the conditions of your order. You may be given a warning. If you don’t comply with the order after attending the meeting, you may be taken back before the court. You could be sent back to detention for the rest of your order.

If you offend again while on a supervised release order, it is very serious. You could have to go back to court for breaching the order and the court may decide to return you to detention for the rest of your order.

Who can I contact if I have a problem with my order?

If you’re having problems with your order, you must talk to your caseworker.