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26 February 2026
When John* went to prison in 1987, the world looked completely different. There were no iPhones, no social media, no streaming services, no GPS, and no tap‑and‑go payments. He was 22 years old and the Opal card would not exist for another 25 years.
“I was a very young man when I received my sentence, I had serious mental health issues, no self-esteem, no education, no hope or prospects for the future,” John said.
“I had lost all hope of ever seeing outside and couldn’t shake my feelings of hopelessness.”
After 38 years in custody, simply opening the gate and handing John a bag of belongings was not going to set him up for success or keep the community safe. He was not prepared for modern technology, the pace of everyday life, or the basic tasks most people take for granted. He needed support to reconnect with a world he left behind decades ago.
The Reintegration and Intensive Support Program (RISP) was created to ensure that people like John were being released with the skills and preparation needed for safe parole.
For Program Manager Cheryl, this would address any concern that long‑term inmates struggled when they left custody, and those struggles could quickly turn into real risks.
“This program was designed to bridge the gap between custody and community,” Cheryl said. “It gives people a structured, supported and closely supervised pathway to release.”
Through RISP inmates have the opportunity to engage with external service providers and receive practical support - they learn to use public transport and obtain an Opal card, develop budgeting skills, open a bank account, and participate in supervised leave to practice real-world skills.
“When I first went on escorted leave everything seemed to be going at one hundred miles an hour and I was struggling to keep up,” John said.
“I was very nervous but the team I had in my corner were the most caring people. This program really worked for me.”
A key focus of RISP is public safety. It prepares long‑term inmates for parole by giving them controlled opportunities to rebuild everyday skills like using public transport, attending appointments and intervention, organising banking, or accessing health services. Without this preparation, the risks increase.
“When long‑term inmates leave custody without proper support, we see the same patterns over and over,” Cheryl said.
“Missed appointments, panic, survival‑driven offending, and a rapid return to custody - because they weren’t prepared.”
Long periods in custody also weaken family ties. Without help to repair or rebuild these relationships, people can face isolation the moment they walk out the gate. This can cause stress and anxiety, which then creates risk.
Unprepared release for people who have served long sentences also places increased pressure on police, health services, parole officers, and emergency responders.
“Unprepared release is an unsafe release,” Cheryl said. “RISP lets us identify risks in real‑world settings before they turn into a crisis.”
One of the strongest misunderstandings about RISP is that it gives inmates more freedom. In reality, the program is highly structured and closely supervised.
Every step is carefully planned and monitored. Movements are assessed for risk and used to build detailed release and parole plans.
To even be considered, inmates must show they match a range of prerequisites which can include consistent good behaviour, compliance, and genuine motivation. Once in the program, the expectations increase. Any issues - poor behaviour, substance use, lack of engagement - lead to immediate consequences such as suspension or removal.
“This is not a soft option,” Cheryl said. “It’s an evidence‑based safety measure built around structure, accountability and public protection.”
Community Corrections Officers Belinda and Orion say early identification of needs is essential.
“Understanding their needs and addressing them early is crucial,” Belinda said.
“We ask difficult questions and challenge the client so we can understand any triggers and minimise harm,” Orion added.
RISP Team Leader Pauline agrees.
“When we reduce stress and build a strong support framework before release, we reduce the likelihood of someone returning to offending,” she said.
The team says the most powerful results can be small but life-changing. Success is seen as confidence returning, anxiety dropping, and people reconnecting with everyday life.
One participant told the team he had avoided applying for parole because he was terrified of leaving custody with no support. After completing the program, he called the staff “miracle workers” for helping him see a future he never thought possible.
Custodial officers, case managers, and Community Corrections staff who have seen the impact of the program say the same thing: this is not about giving inmates an advantage. It is about making release safer, more controlled, and better managed for the community.
“The RISP team came into my life at the exact time I needed it most. They helped me break down barriers and I am eternally grateful,” John said.
“I was nervous, anxious and scared when I was granted parole, but the team I had in my corner and the program supported and encouraged me and have given me a second chance at life.”
RISP fills a gap the system has needed for years, and the message from staff is clear: when release is carefully planned and supported, everyone is safer.
