source : the age
Overcrowded and underfunded Queensland jails are failing to effectively rehabilitate prisoners and reintegrate them into society, with nearly half returning to prison within two years of being released.
Queensland’s prisoner population has increased by 54 per cent in the last decade, according to a report from the auditor-general released on Tuesday.
The report found 13 of the state’s 20 correctional centres were detaining more people than originally intended.
Queensland Auditor-General Rachel Vagg said the growing prison population, combined with funding and resourcing constraints, was affecting the efficacy of rehabilitation programs that are necessary to help prisoners address the root causes of their offending behaviour before release.
“More prisoners mean greater demand for existing programs and services,” Vagg said.
“If not managed effectively it can impact delivery to programs, training and education, and employment opportunities that are fundamental to effective rehabilitation and successful transition into the community.”
Opportunities for prisoners to receive tailored case management was also affected by the state’s ballooning prison population.
“Without risk assessment and case management across all centres, [Queensland Corrective Services] cannot ensure prisoners are getting access to the right number and types of programs and services at the right times,” Vagg said.
Overall, QCS, which has oversight of prison programs, does not effectively plan for and facilitate the rehabilitation or reintegration of prisoners, Vagg said.
This failure had led to 44 per cent of prisoners released across the state in 2022–23 returning to custody within two years.
First Nations prisoners, who account for 40 per cent of Queensland’s prisoner population despite making up less than five per cent of the state’s population, were returned to custody at a higher rate than non-First Nations people.
“While QCS requires its staff to assess the safety and security risks of prisoners, it does not consistently assess their rehabilitation and reintegration risks and needs,” Vagg said.
“This impacts QCS’s ability to understand its prisoner cohorts and their risks and needs across correctional centres. It also impacts its ability to effectively manage prisoners and prioritise programs and services across the system.”
Prisoner programs target a range of offences, including sexual offending and family and domestic violence.
Despite more than 11,200 people imprisoned in June last year, only 1600 prisoners had completed rehabilitation programs between 2020–21 and 2024–25.
Vagg said there were more than 1000 prisoners on waitlists for rehabilitation programs in March, with people waiting an average of one year and four months to access services. Nearly 5800 were waiting to access wellbeing programs.
Less than half of all Queensland prisoners leaving jail receive pre-release support, including individualised plans and assistance accessing services such as housing or employment.
Vagg recommended QCS strengthen the planning and oversight of prison programs, implement a case management delivery model, and improve data collection and governance.
QCS Commissioner Paul Stewart accepted all recommendations and acknowledged the state’s growing prisoner population had affected services.
“As outlined in the report, QCS is delivering these rehabilitation and reintegration services within a complex and high-demand environment, with the prisoner population increasing significantly over the past decade, placing sustained pressure on infrastructure, workforce and service delivery,” Stewart said.
“Infrastructure delivery, including completing construction and commissioning of the 1624 bed Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre in September 2025, has provided capacity in the immediate term.
“Work is also underway to expand capacity across the correctional system, including delivering 800 beds at Townsville and Arthur Gorrie correctional centres and 600 additional beds across Queensland correctional centres.”
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