Finding into death of Joshua Tovey

Contributing factors

• Delayed contravention action by Corrections Victoria despite high-risk offender status
• Inadequate monitoring of Community Corrections Order compliance
• Failure to enforce court-ordered substance abuse treatment
• Failure to enforce court-ordered mental health treatment
• Substance abuse escalation not addressed proactively
• Poor case file documentation and missing details
• Delays in authorising contravention proceedings after further offending
• Absence of clear guidance on when community risk has become too high

Coroner's recommendations

1. Corrections Victoria should review case management policies relating to managing non-compliance for CCO offenders and procedures for contravention action, providing greater clarity to assist case managers in determining when risk to the community has become too high, with guidance based on MARAM risk assessments where the offender has contact with intimate partners or family members
2. Attorney-General and Secretary of the Department of Justice and Community Safety should review funding for the Magistrates Court of Victoria to expand fast-track contravention hearings for breaches of CCOs state-wide, with fast-track approaches becoming standard practice across all Magistrates' Courts in Victoria