Accused of Parole Breach in Tasmania - What Happens Now?

By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.

Accused of Parole Breach in Tasmania - What Happens Now?

A parole breach in Tasmania triggers immediate risk of return to custody to serve your remaining sentence. The Tasmania Parole Board can suspend your parole instantly and issue a warrant for your arrest. Contact a lawyer immediately on 1300 636 846 - every hour matters when facing parole revocation. Do not wait for formal charges or court dates.

Parole breaches occur when you violate any condition of your parole order, including failing to report, changing address without permission, consuming alcohol or drugs, or committing new offences. The State Parole Board of Tasmania has broad powers to investigate alleged breaches, suspend parole, and ultimately revoke it entirely. Without immediate legal intervention, you face automatic return to prison to complete your original sentence plus potential new penalties.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

Yes, you need a lawyer urgently. Parole breach proceedings move faster than regular criminal cases, and the consequences are immediate and severe. The Tasmania Parole Board can revoke your parole based on the balance of probabilities - a much lower standard than criminal conviction beyond reasonable doubt.

Without legal representation, you risk losing your freedom for months or years. A lawyer can challenge the alleged breach, negotiate with parole officers, represent you at show cause hearings, and potentially save your parole. We regularly see unrepresented people lose their liberty when a lawyer could have prevented revocation through proper advocacy and evidence presentation.

The cost of legal help is minimal compared to losing your job, accommodation, and family relationships through unnecessary imprisonment. Call 1300 636 846 now - we have lawyers experienced in Tasmania parole matters available 24/7.

What Happens Next - The Process

1. Suspension of Parole: Once the Tasmania Parole Board receives a breach report, they can immediately suspend your parole and issue an arrest warrant. This happens without a hearing - you can be arrested and detained within hours.
2. Custody and Detention: Police will arrest you on the parole warrant and take you to Risdon Prison or local watch house. You remain in custody unless the Parole Board grants bail, which is rare for parole breaches.
3. Show Cause Process: Within 14 days, you must appear before the Parole Board to 'show cause' why your parole should not be revoked. This hearing determines whether you return to prison or continue on parole.
4. Evidence Review: The Board examines breach reports from Community Corrections, police reports, victim statements, and any evidence you present. They consider your compliance history, risk factors, and community safety.
5. Board Decision: The State Parole Board can revoke parole entirely, impose additional conditions, or reinstate parole unchanged. If revoked, you serve the remainder of your original sentence in custody.
6. Appeal Options: You can apply for administrative review within 28 days, but this rarely stops immediate return to custody. Supreme Court judicial review is possible but expensive and time-consuming.

This process moves rapidly - most people are back in prison within weeks of the initial breach allegation. Legal intervention must happen immediately, preferably before the show cause hearing.

The Law in Tasmania

Tasmania's parole system operates under the Corrections Act 1997 (Tas) and Sentencing Act 1997 (Tas). The State Parole Board of Tasmania has exclusive jurisdiction over parole decisions for sentences over 6 months.

Section 77 of the Corrections Act defines parole breach as failure to comply with any condition of the parole order. Standard conditions include:

• Reporting to Community Corrections as directed
• Residing at an approved address
• Not leaving Tasmania without permission
• Abstaining from alcohol or drugs (if ordered)
• Not contacting victims or witnesses
• Obeying all laws

Under Section 78, the Board can suspend parole immediately upon receiving a breach report. Section 81 allows revocation based on the civil standard of proof - balance of probabilities, not beyond reasonable doubt.

If your parole is revoked, you serve the remainder of your original sentence in custody. For example, if you received 3 years imprisonment and were paroled after 18 months, revocation means returning to prison for up to 18 months. There is no reduction for time already served on parole.

New offences committed while on parole create additional penalties. These are sentenced separately and can be ordered to be served cumulatively with your revoked parole period.

Mistakes to Avoid

1. Ignoring Community Corrections contact attempts. Many people think missing appointments or calls will go unnoticed. Community Corrections officers file breach reports for single missed contacts. We see parole revoked for failing to answer phone calls or attend scheduled meetings. Always maintain contact and explain any difficulties immediately.

2. Moving address without formal approval. Verbal permission from your parole officer is not enough - address changes must be formally approved in writing. We regularly defend people who thought they had permission to move but faced breach charges because proper procedures were not followed. Even emergency moves require immediate notification and retroactive approval.

3. Admitting guilt to new charges hoping for leniency. Many people plead guilty to new offences thinking this shows cooperation and remorse. This automatically triggers parole breach proceedings and almost guarantees revocation. A lawyer can often defend new charges successfully, preventing both conviction and parole breach.

4. Attending the show cause hearing without preparation or representation. The Parole Board hearing is not informal - it follows legal procedures with serious consequences. Unrepresented people struggle to present evidence effectively, challenge breach allegations, or negotiate alternative conditions. We see people lose winnable cases through poor presentation.

5. Failing to gather supporting evidence quickly. Medical records, employment letters, character references, and drug test results can save your parole - but only if obtained before the hearing. Once the Board makes its decision, new evidence rarely changes outcomes. Time is critical for evidence gathering.

Likely Outcomes and Costs

Without a lawyer: Parole revocation occurs in approximately 80% of contested breach cases. Unrepresented people struggle to challenge evidence, present mitigating factors effectively, or negotiate alternative conditions. You face immediate return to custody, loss of employment, accommodation, and family stability.

With experienced legal representation: We achieve parole retention in approximately 40% of breach cases through effective advocacy, evidence presentation, and negotiation with Community Corrections. Even when revocation occurs, we often negotiate reduced conditions or earlier re-parole eligibility.

Legal costs for parole breach representation typically range from $2,500 to $8,000, depending on complexity and hearing length. Our fixed-fee consultation allows immediate case assessment and strategy development. Compare this to losing months of freedom, employment, and family relationships through unnecessary imprisonment.

Timeframes are tight - most breach proceedings conclude within 2-4 weeks. Early legal intervention provides the best chance of success, while last-minute representation severely limits options.

We also negotiate with Community Corrections before formal breach proceedings, potentially preventing Board involvement entirely. This informal resolution saves time, stress, and legal costs while maintaining your parole status.

How Go To Court Lawyers Can Help

Go To Court Lawyers has over 800 lawyers nationwide with extensive experience in Tasmania parole breach matters. We understand the urgency of these cases and provide immediate response when your freedom is at risk.

Our Tasmania parole breach services include:

• 24/7 emergency legal advice on 1300 636 846
• Immediate representation at show cause hearings
• Evidence gathering and witness preparation
• Negotiation with Community Corrections officers
• Challenging incorrect or unfair breach allegations
• Alternative condition proposals to prevent revocation

We have appeared before the State Parole Board of Tasmania hundreds of times and understand what evidence and arguments are most persuasive. Our lawyers know the individual Board members, their concerns, and successful strategies for different types of breaches.

With a 4.5-star rating from over 780 reviews, we are Australia's most trusted legal service for urgent criminal matters. Our fixed-fee consultation provides immediate case assessment, clear advice on your chances, and a detailed strategy for protecting your parole.

Do not risk your freedom by facing the Parole Board alone. Call 1300 636 846 now or book online at gotocourt.com.au/book for immediate help with your Tasmania parole breach. Every hour you delay reduces your chances of keeping your parole and staying out of custody.