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CSNSW history
A brief history of corrective services in NSW
"Corrective services" is the name given to the work of punishing and reforming people convicted by the courts. This includes people who are sent to prison and those subject to court orders, such as good behaviour bonds. Today the latter group far outnumber inmates in prison.
Explore the following pages to learn about the development of corrective services over time in New South Wales.
Last updated:
02 Apr 2025
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Nations Peoples of NSW and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future.
Informed by lessons of the past, Department of Communities and Justice is improving how we work with Aboriginal people and communities. We listen and learn from the knowledge, strength and resilience of Stolen Generations Survivors, Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal communities.
You can access our apology to the Stolen Generations.