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In an effort to reinforce bail laws in South Australia, the government has recently increased the number of electronic monitoring devices, enabling stricter surveillance of offenders on bail. Minister for Correctional Services, Dan Cregan, announced an $8.1 million investment which includes the addition of 220 electronic monitoring devices. This enhancement in monitoring capacity allows 24/7 tracking of offenders, with dedicated Corrections staff monitoring and responding to alerts to ensure compliance and protect the community.
This enhancement closely aligns with the tough bail laws recently enacted by the State Government. These laws have been implemented to ensure that individuals accused of serious crimes face more rigorous scrutiny before being granted bail. A notable aspect of the new regulations is the mandatory electronic monitoring for any defendant accused of breaching a domestic violence-related intervention order through physical violence or the threat of violence.
Currently, 733 adults and 149 young people are subject to electronic monitoring on bail, marking a 24 per cent increase in monitored adults since January 2021 and a 73 per cent increase in monitored youths from 2020 to 2023. These increases in monitoring have reportedly improved the detection of bail condition breaches. According to the latest police statistics, charges for breaches have increased by 7 per cent over the past year, with 16,700 charges laid in 2024, consisting of 13,960 adult offences and 2,734 youth offences.
Minister Cregan spoke about the effectiveness of the program, saying “Stronger laws and real-time monitoring ensure alleged offenders on bail face stricter conditions and community safety is prioritised. The hard fact is we are requiring offenders to walk a narrower line on bail than governments before, especially where domestic violence is involved. Those who flout their bail conditions can expect to be caught, and that is showing up in the data.”
The initiative not only focuses on strict monitoring but also aims at rehabilitation and reducing recidivism, particularly among young offenders. As part of these efforts, the government is investing in significant upgrades to the Kurlana Tapa Youth Training Centre and has committed $1 million to divert Aboriginal children charged with minor offences from custody into community-based support programs aimed at early intervention.
These measures reflect a strategic approach towards handling bail and corrections in South Australia, focusing on both strict surveillance to enhance community safety and focused rehabilitation to break the cycle of crime. These efforts are backed by statistics and the government’s commitment to reducing offences and supporting victims at the earliest stages of criminal proceedings.
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