Parole report complete Friday at earliest

Corrections Minister Judith Collins will not receive the report on accountability for the parole services' poor performance until Friday at the earliest, a spokesman for the minister said today.

On February 18 Ms Collins gave State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie 10 working days to report to her.

She wants to know who is accountable for the lapses revealed in a report by Auditor-General Kevin Brady, who examined 100 parole cases, including 52 high risk offenders.

He found that in most cases correct procedures were not followed.

Staff did not even carry out some of the special provisions brought in after parolee Graeme Burton murdered Karl Kuchenbecker in January 2007.

The deadline is tomorrow but Mr Rennie was apparently unable to complete the report in time.

"It is a priority piece of work for us and we are endeavouring to get it completed as soon as possible," a State Services Commission spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the futures of Corrections Department chief executive Barry Matthews and the general manager of probation, Katrina Casey, are uncertain.

Ms Collins has refused to express confidence in Mr Matthews, who has said he does not intend resigning.

- NZPA