Corrections Victoria staff bungle paperwork, set free serious violent offender by mistake

A SERIOUS violent offender was set free from jail for 24 days by mistake after Corrections Victoria staff bungled his paperwork — and it’s not the only case where a prisoner was set loose early.

A SERIOUS violent offender was set free from jail for 24 days by mistake after Victoria Corrections staff bungled his paperwork.

The alarming unlawful release is among 13 cases where a prisoner was let loose before serving their full sentence, none of which have been revealed to the public by the Andrews Government.

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A serious violent offender was set free from jail for 24 days by mistake. Picture: File.

The dangerous convicted criminal was serving sentences for multiple crimes, including threatening serious violence.

But despite the long list of offences, he was approved for release after staff failed to list all of his crimes when he appeared before the parole board in 2015.

The issue went undetected for more than three weeks before the error was discovered and he was returned to jail.

The news comes after the Herald Sun uncovered a separate case where an alleged armed robber was supposed to be held on remand but was instead set free earlier this year.

The felon enjoyed several nights on the loose before the issue was identified and he willingly surrendered to police in Broadmeadows.

The matter prompted an emergency review by the State Government.

However, it can be revealed a similar review highlighting issues in the system had already been carried out after a previous release.

Despite it raising concerns with corrections procedures the document and its findings were kept secret.

The alarming unlawful release is among 13 cases were a prisoner was let loose before serving their full sentence. Picture: File.

The Herald Sun understands human error was blamed in almost all of the unlawful releases and it is common knowledge among the industry, with insiders blaming poor systems, overworked staff and a booming prison population for the mistakes.

— In 2015 four prisoners including serious offenders were set free for periods ranging from eight to 24 days.

— In 2016 three criminals walked the streets for three to nine days before being recaptured.

— In 2017 four prisoners were released for periods up to 11 days after time cut from their sentences due to miscalculated prison emergency lockdowns.

— In 2018 an alleged armed robber who was supposed to be held on remand was allowed to walk free for three days while awaiting trial.

In many cases the prisoners were not under supervision and Victoria Police’s Fugitive Taskforce was called in to track down the prisoners.

Corrections spokeswoman Ashleigh Brown said actions had been taken to “minimise the risk of such errors” including staff training and IT upgrades.

“The community has a right to expect offenders will serve their time as directed by the courts,” she said.

“In all instances of a prisoner being released early, appropriate actions have been put in place to rectify the contributing factors.”

It is understood none of the criminals committed further offences while being out of jail.

Opposition corrections spokesman Edward O’Donohue slammed the government for sweeping the issue under the carpet.

“Prisons are now literally a revolving door under Daniel Andrews,” he said.

“If you can’t keep criminals locked up in jail how are you going to keep our suburbs and towns safe?”

Government spokeswoman Jamila Fontana said the unlawful release rate was at its lowest in five years and hit out at the previous Liberal Government for not upgrading the correction systems while in power.

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