Automatic language translation
Our website uses an automatic service to translate our content into different languages. These translations should be used as a guide only. See our Accessibility page for further information.
Families and community relationships can play an important part in supporting an offender to make and sustain those changes which reduce reoffending.
Offender Management & Programs (OM&P) supports integrated and comprehensive service responses, recognising that holistic interventions that target offenders' multiple needs and involve work with offenders' families and the wider community are more likely to be effective in reducing reoffending.
Therefore, OM&P, which includes Offender Services and Programs, Compulsory & Intensive Drug Treatment, Corrective Services Industries & Education, Classification & Placement, Forum Sentencing & Restorative Justice and Chaplaincy Services, promotes and negotiates relevant projects and research in this area, looking at practice standards, program & service evaluation and ways to improve integrated responses to families and communities affected by the criminal justice processes through active participation in:
A strong family relationship can help offenders make and sustain the changes needed to turn away from crime. Imprisonment is known to disrupt family and community bonds and research suggests that this disruption increases the risk of reoffending.
Therefore specific services are provided for families of offenders who are in custody to facilitate contact and manage family crises as well as strengthen and maintain positive relationships. These include:
In addition, offenders in custody require assistance with a number of services to address their offending behaviour and deal with other life circumstances. Offenders are either referred to relevant community based service providers or directly supported by trained OS&P or Community Corrections staff members who can assist them with:
OM&P staff members involved in this direct service delivery require a range of administrative, service and clinical support in order to maintain consistent high quality professional standards. The OM&P Branch provides:
If you are worried about someone’s mental health in custody please call the Justice Health NSW Mental Health Helpline on 1800 222 472.
You can also contact the Correctional Centre directly and request to speak to a Services and Programs Officer (SAPO).
For more information about visits, the Children and Families of Offenders Steering Committee, and the CSNSW Strategy for service and program provision to Children and Families of Offenders visit the Information for Visitors page.
Level 7 East, Henry Deane Building
GPO Box 31 Sydney NSW 2000
29 Jul 2024
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.