South Australia Police has welcomed the return of convicted offender Raina Cruise to Adelaide Women’s Prison.
Police attended a western suburbs address just before 12.30pm on Friday 31 July, following a request for assistance from the Department for Correctional Services (DCS), who had attended the property to apprehend Ms Cruise. She was subsequently returned to custody by DCS officers, with police providing no direct assistance in the apprehension.
Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams said Cruise’s release from prison ten months early had shocked and distressed rank-and-file police and re-victimised the officer who was the subject of Cruise’s cowardly attack.
“Individuals who are convicted of an offence of violence should be the last to be considered for any kind of early release from prison,” she said.
“What has happened here simply sends the wrong message to the community.
“When Cruise was handed a suspended sentence by the District Court, I said it did not meet community expectations in any way. Likewise, what has occurred with her early release from prison does not meet community expectations.
“The community expects that an individual convicted and sentenced for offences of violence, particularly against police officers, will serve their full custodial sentence.
“This disturbing development in this case comes just days after a police officer was severely injured during a violent incident and we made our expectations of the justice system abundantly clear.
“Police need to know they will be supported by every component of the justice system as they serve their community. Those who commit acts of violence against police need to know they will face the consequences – including serving the full sentence they are handed upon conviction.”
