Investing in community supervision and safety

Last published on 22 Jun 2021 

Offenders in the community will be under increased supervision and have greater access to rehabilitation programs following a $33 million investment in reducing reoffending and building safer communities.

Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections Anthony Roberts said the funding was part of a $2.7 billion investment in the 2021-22 NSW Budget in Corrective Services NSW operations.

“There are about 35,000 people on parole or other community-based supervision, who represent the largest cohort of offenders managed by Corrective Services NSW,” Mr Roberts said.

“Providing these people with greater access to programs and increased supervision significantly enhances their ability to lead law-abiding lives. These interventions are vital in improving community safety and ensuring people do not become further entrenched in the criminal justice system.

“We want to reduce reoffending by five per cent by 2023 and the supervision by Community Corrections substantially contributes to this objective.”

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the $33 million funding has allowed for the creation of more than 170 new frontline Community Corrections roles, plus an additional eight Aboriginal identified roles.

“Community Corrections play a significant role in keeping our community safe. By continuing to invest in the supervision of offenders on other community-based orders, we can help individuals reintegrate safely into the community,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The Department of Communities and Justice will also invest $12.4 million in a range of community-based programs aimed at countering violent extremism, a $49.6 million total investment from the NSW Government over four years.”

This year’s Budget also contains four-year funding of $120 million to deliver infrastructure upgrades across the Department of Communities and Justice and $85 million for investments in cyber security.

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