A $237 million investment to reduce criminal reoffending rates in NSW will target persistent domestic violence defendants and other high-risk offenders.
It also supports ex-inmates who have served a short sentence of six months or less with intensive rehabilitation programs.
NSW Minister for Corrections David Elliott said an additional 345 psychologists, community corrections officers and other skilled staff will be employed by Corrective Services NSW as part of the record spend on rehabilitation.
“This is part of the government’s commitment to reduce the rate of adult reoffending by five per cent and also reduce domestic violence,” Mr Elliott said.
The reoffending strategy makes sure prisoners and parolees attend violence, addiction and sex offender programs once they are released into the community.
Priority domestic violence defendants will receive one-on-one case management and intervention after they are charged but before they are sentenced, as this is a high-risk period for reoffending.
There is also funding to improve exit planning and reintegration support such as housing and employment for offenders leaving prison on parole, while higher-risk offenders will be more closely monitored.
