A Perth man who allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and evaded police for two days before being caught was initially denied parole after being jailed on domestic violence charges due to his extensive criminal history and unmet treatment needs.
Documents reveal Steven Wade Dodd, 50, was released on parole on July 10 for a period of four months, with the Prisoners Review Board determining he would pose “an acceptable risk to the community”.
Steven Dodd, 50, sparked an urgent police search in Perth after he allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and went on the run. Credit: WA Police
But the board took a different stance just two months earlier, on April 11, when it refused Dodd parole.
“Given your extensive criminal history which demonstrates your use of violence against intimate partners as well as involvement in the drug culture, the Board considers that without intensive intervention, you are an unacceptable risk to the safety of the community if released on parole,” its decision read.
“The Board is of the opinion that you are likely to have unmet treatment needs as evidenced by your current offences and your criminal history.
“You have not had the opportunity to participate in treatment programmes in custody to meet these treatment needs due to the short duration of the current sentence.”
The fact that Dodd was a serial family violence offender further exacerbated the issue.
He had previously completed the Stopping Family Violence Program, but the board determined Dodd continued to “act in an abusive and violent manner towards your intimate partners and to use illicit substances despite understanding that this negatively impacts your decision-making”.
The board encouraged Dodd to engage in another program called Breathing Space and his agreement to do so contributed to him being granted parole on his second application.