Rehabilitating offenders in custody

Part of the Sentences for adult offenders topic

Understand what rehabilitation opportunities are available to offenders who are in custody in Queensland.

In short

By participating in rehabilitation programs, prisoners can develop skills, address offending behaviours and prepare for a successful transition back into the community.

For more information, prisoners can speak with correctional centre staff or program representatives.

What you should know

Taking part in these programs is voluntary. The Parole Board Queensland may consider rehabilitation efforts when reviewing parole applications.

Prisoners are encouraged to get involved to improve their chances of living a crime-free life after release.

Suitability assessment

Prisoners are assessed for their suitability to take part in rehabilitation programs. This assessment considers:

the nature of their offences
their risk of reoffending
the length of their remaining sentence
the timing of the program
their willingness to participate.

Prisoners’ reading and writing abilities are also assessed to ensure they are recommended for programs that maximise their chances of rehabilitation.

Offending behaviour programs

Prisoners can take part in offender behaviour programs designed to address criminal behaviours, such as violence, sexual offending and substance abuse. These programs aim to help them develop skills and strategies to reduce the risk of reoffending when they leave prison.

They vary in intensity and are recommended based on:

the prisoner’s offending history
their risk of reoffending
the level of harm associated with their offending.

Maintenance programs

After completing an offending behaviour program, prisoners may be recommended to join a maintenance program. These programs help refresh and strengthen the skills they’ve learned and are often targeted at those nearing their release date.

Vocational education and training

Prisoners can access a variety of education and vocational training programs to develop skills that will help them gain and maintain employment after release. These programs are nationally recognised and accredited under the Australian Qualifications Training Framework.

Prisoners can participate in:

literacy and numeracy programs
secondary education or equivalent
tertiary studies
vocational education and training (VET).

These programs can also lead to employment opportunities within prison industries and provide recognised qualifications.

Other prison rehabilitation services

Prisoners can access additional rehabilitation services, including:

Pastoral care

Chaplains and religious visitors provide pastoral care to prisoners. The State Chaplaincy Board coordinates chaplain visits, and reasonable steps are taken to ensure prisoners can observe their own religion.

Elders visitation program

Elders from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities regularly visit prisons to support Indigenous prisoners.