Prison day release program will see sex offenders and violent thugs on the streets

EXCLUSIVE: Dozens of notorious sex offenders and violent thugs will be let out of jail for fishing trips, shopping centre visits and even picnics under a new mentoring program.

Inmates who “demonstrate impulsive and pro-criminal thinking”, drug addicts and the mentally ill will all be allowed out of prison 12 months before their scheduled release with volunteers, not jail guards.

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DOZENS of notorious sex offenders and violent thugs will be let out of jail on day release for fishing trips, shopping centre visits and even picnics under a controversial mentoring program.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal inmates who “demonstrate impulsive and pro-criminal thinking”, drug addicts and the mentally ill will all be allowed out of prison 12 months before their scheduled release with volunteers, not jail guards.

A tender document asking for non-­government organisations to get involved in the $1.3 million Volunteer Mentoring Scheme reveals risks associated with the program include “offender compliance” when out on the streets and even “political risk” and “media attention”.

The ­volunteer mentoring service will target jails in the Hunter, Greater Western Sydney and South Coast areas — including Silverwater, Long Bay, Emu Plains, Nowra and Cessnock.

A minimum of 40 offenders with a “lengthy criminal ­history” will be allowed out of jail under the scheme annually.

The documents specify “pre-release” inmates will ­“attend an approved pro-social activity eg visit a shopping centre, picnic, fishing”.

They will also travel on public transport.

The document refers to “unescorted external leave programs” where “the inmate does not need to be supervised by staff but must be accompanied by an approved sponsor”.

It says the offenders may ­include those who have ­“attracted media interest due to the nature of their offence”.

“Mentor as anything”: Warren.

The “target group for the VMS is varied; generally ­offenders will present with complex needs”.

“Offenders eligible” would have “limited or no family/community support”, “be ­convicted of a sexual and/or ­violent offence” or “have ­attracted media interest due to the nature of their offence”.

They may also have “a ­mental health issue and/or ­intellectual disability/cognitive impairment” and they could have an “alcohol and/or other drug dependency” and “demonstrate impulsive and pro-criminal thinking”.

A minimum of 40 offenders with a “lengthy criminal ­history” will be allowed out of jail under the scheme annually.

The document says the ­volunteer mentoring service will target jails in the Hunter, Greater Western Sydney and South Coast areas — including Silverwater, Long Bay, Emu Plains, Nowra and Cessnock.

Opposition Corrective Services spokesman Guy Zangari last night attacked the scheme, saying: “The community has every right to ­expect that when a criminal is out on day release they’re being supervised by prison ­officers, not well-meaning ­volunteers.”

Yet Corrective Services Minister David Elliott is standing by the scheme, saying: “Day release before parole has been used for decades ... the only difference here is the use of volunteers.

“Prisoners must be classified as minimum security and risk-assessed before they ­participate and will be ­accompanied by volunteers ­whenever outside prison.

“The Red Cross provided post-­release mentoring for male ­offenders in NSW in 2012-14.”

An extract from a tender document asking for non-­government organisations to get involved in the $1.3 million Volunteer Mentoring Scheme.