Stronger supervision of offenders in the community
In a boost to public safety, more offenders in the community will be actively supervised by Community Corrections Officers following an investment of more than $20 million over four years in the 2022-23 NSW Budget.
The Budget includes a total of $2.5 billion in recurrent expenditure for the management of adult offenders in custody and in the community, an increase from $2.2 billion in last year’s Budget.
Minister for Corrections Geoff Lee said: “This year’s Budget will allow additional offenders to be subject to active intervention, greatly aiding the Premier’s priorities for Corrective Services NSW of reducing reoffending, improving public safety, and securing a safer future for New South Wales.”
The extension of active supervision to more community-based offenders will also result in a boost to frontline services through the employment of more new Community Corrections Officers throughout the State.
The NSW Budget will also see a further $6 million allocated to refurbish cells in NSW correctional centres to improve safety for inmates and staff.
Refurbishment will focus on those cells housing inmates identified as highest risk of self-harm or suicide and will include assessment cells, segregation cells and cells housing unsentenced inmates.
“The refurbishment of cells to remove ligature points and the use of Corrective Services Industries to construct anti-ligature cell furniture and fittings is an important way in which CSNSW is working toward reducing deaths in custody,” Dr Lee said.
Rehabilitation will continue to be transformed through the allocation of $29.6 million in capital expenditure toward digital rehabilitation programs and services.
“Reducing reoffending through rehabilitation is a vital part of CSNSW’s work,” Dr Lee said.
“These new programs will increase inmate rehabilitation by providing inmates digital access to the inmate learning portal, library and mental health services.”