New Laws Focus on Extended Incarceration for Repeat Sex Offenders

NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia — The government of New South Wales plans to create new laws to keep repeat sex offenders behind bars.

The changes would allow the government to use its own discretion to increase jail sentences for repeat sex offenders. The continuing detention order was expected to be introduced into Parliament in March.

The attorney general would need to make a direct application to the Supreme Court to block an offender’s release if he refuses to participate in rehabilitation programs and has made threats to commit similar offences again.

The bill also includes the provision for the government to apply for continued monitoring of released offenders by satellite tracking and curfews.

New South Wales is Australia’s most populous and oldest state, located in the southeast, north of Victoria and south of Queensland. It is home to Australia’s largest city Sydney.