Rehabilitation programs for prisoners serving short sentences

High Intensity Program Units will focus on delivering intensive services, treatment programs and release planning activities for more than 1200 inmates serving sentences six months or less.

The four-month program will include:

• two units for female inmates tailored to meet the needs of women and include services and support around access to children, local mental health services, and family-centred visits
• up to five units dedicated to delivering programs for male inmates convicted of domestic violence offences
• two units focusing on the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates.

Correctional centres in Cessnock, Mid-North Coast, Bathurst, Wellington, Dillwynia (Windsor), South Coast and Cooma will implement the program over the next three months.

The government will invest $13 million in 2017-18 on the program, including 80 new jobs.

Minister for Corrections David Elliott said the units support the government’s commitment to reduce domestic violence offenders reoffending within 12 months by five per cent, and reduce adult reoffending by five per cent.

“This investment in rehabilitation complements the government’s prison infrastructure strategy, as well as the roll out of benchmarking across the system to promote innovation and improve standards,” Mr Elliott said.