Many detainees experience significant disadvantage and challenges in reintegrating into the community on release from custody. Transitional release commences from the start of a detainee’s custodial period and continues throughout their sentence to identify goals and work towards a planned program of reintegration into the community.
ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS) is committed to ensuring that minimum security detainees are eligible to apply for transitional release to participate in activities outside the Alexander Maconochie Centre that directly contribute to their gradual return to the community.
Transitional release supports rehabilitation and prepares detainees for return to the community and aims to reduce the disadvantage that custody provides to securing employment.
The transitional release program assists in preventing reoffending and provides benefits to detainees in terms of:
- enhanced vocational skills;
- employment outcomes on release; and
- ability to earn income while in custody to discharge debt and acquire savings.
Transitional release is not an entitlement and detainees are subject to comprehensive risk assessment prior to participation with ensuring community safety of paramount concern. A structured program of transitional release activities is developed in consultation with detainees. An Employment Specialist liaises with community stakeholders to establish connections and opportunities for employment.
Community work crews
Detainees participating in the Transitional Release Program may be eligible to participate in supervised work crews in the community.
Community work crew options include working alongside ACT Parks and Conservation to maintain ACT parks and reserves, community service activities, metal recycling and waste disposal, and assisting in the maintenance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community areas such as Boomanulla Oval.
For more information, please see the Transitional Release Policy
