As part of last week’s state budget, it was announced that a high intensity program unit, which would have 100 places available, will be introduced at Wellington Jail.

Similar units will also be opened at nine other prisons across the state.

Minister for Corrections David Elliott said the NSW Government investment meant Correective Services NSW was now in a position to service cohorts of offenders that hadn’t been effectively reached before.

“These are offenders who keep returning to custody on short sentences that will now have access to intensive programs and services to try and break this cycle,” Mr Elliott said.

Orana Local Area Command’s Acting Superintendent Scott Tanner said the implementation of the program is a positive step forward.

“It goes a long way towards breaking the cycle of domestic violence. Previously inmates would have to be serving long sentences or wait until they were released before doing such a program, and there was that gap for those on short sentences,” he said.

“For some people, unfortunately, they have grown up surrounded by domestic violence and they carry that into their adult life. 

“If we can reach those people before they get back into society and rehabilitate them, which along with punishment is what jail is for, then hopefully they don’t return to that cycle.”

As well as being a way to combat domestic violence issues within the community, Acting Superintendent Tanner said the flow-on effects could benefit the whole community.

“If we can reduce the rate of recidivist offenders, it means our police can be out trying to prevent crime rather than reacting to crime. We’ve already had some great response with the family investment model, which is coordinated through the police and the Department of Justice, and this program will just add to that,” he said.