Appendix: Development of the Sentencing and Parole Legislation – Timeline of Events
Co-ordination and Collaboration in the Criminal Justice Sector.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 16 February 2000 | Minister of Justice agrees to begin work on a Sentencing Reform Bill. |
| 4 April 2000 | The Ministry sends out a timetable to the Department for Courts and the Department of Corrections, stating that 11 Cabinet Papers would be prepared for Ministers’ consideration. |
| 21 June 2000 | The Ministry sends out a draft Cabinet Paper to officials from various agencies for comment, that seeks agreement in principle to the scope of the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill (SPRB). |
| July 2000 | Cabinet paper setting proposed scope of the Bill. |
| 13 July to 7 September 2000 | A series of eleven policy papers are sent out to the various agencies for consultation. |
| 19 July 2000 | The Cabinet Social Policy and Health Committee agree that an informal Committee of Ministers can make interim decisions about the scope of the Bill. |
| 6 September 2000 | First meeting of the informal Committee of Ministers. |
| 18 September 2000 | Second meeting of the informal Committee of Ministers. |
| 9 October 2000 | Third meeting of the informal Committee of Ministers. |
| 21 November 2000 | The Ministry sends out a draft Cabinet Paper for consultation that sets out the proposed SPRB policy, with comments due by 27 November 2000. The proposed date for passing the legislation is 1 March 2002. |
| 28 November 2000 | The draft Cabinet Paper is provided to the informal Committee of Ministers. |
| 30 November 2000 | Fourth meeting of the informal Committee of Ministers. |
| 7 December 2000 | The Cabinet Paper presented to Cabinet Policy Committee seeks agreement to the policy contents of the Bill. |
| 26 February 2001 | After the paper passes through a series of Cabinet Committees, Cabinet confirms the decision of the Cabinet Policy Committee to issue drafting instructions to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. |
| 14 March 2001 | Drafting instructions provided to the Parliamentary Counsel Office. |
| May 2001 | Department of Corrections raises concerns about whether CMS will be ready in time. |
| 2 July 2001 | A draft memo for the Cabinet Legislative Committee that seeks approval to introduce the SPRB is circulated for consultation purposes. |
| 1 August 2001 | The Minister of Justice recommends to the Cabinet Legislative Committee that the introduction of the SPRB be approved. |
| 6 August 2001 | Cabinet approves the introduction of the SPRB. |
| 7 August 2001 | Minister of Justice introduces the SPRB into the House. |
| 23 August 2001 | Officials recommend that Ministers agree to a new commencement date for the SPRB of 1 July 2002. |
| August 2001 | Time by which decisions on design and build of IT systems had to be made. |
| September 2001 | The Justice and Electoral Committee commences hearings. |
| November 2001 | Department for Courts management aware of problems with CMS. |
| February 2002 | The Justice and Electoral Committee reports back to the House. |
| 5 March 2002 | Department for Courts advises sector agencies that CMS will not be ready by the agreed deadline. |
| 29 March 2002 | Second Reading of the Bill. |
| 1 May 2002 | Third Reading. |
| 5 May 2002 | Royal Assent given. |
| 30 June 2002 | The Sentencing Act 2002 and the Parole Act 2002 come into force. |