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Convicted rapists and murderers are leaving prison with thousands of dollars stashed in their bank accounts - money earned from jobs they have out in the community.
Corrections has confirmed that some inmates have at least $10,000 in their accounts by the time they leave prison - money which the department says can go towards providing a "valuable head-start" in often difficult circumstances.
But National is critical of the scheme, saying prison should be a place of punishment rather than a place for "pecuniary gain".
Under the "release to work" scheme inmates nearing the end of their sentence are signed up for full-time jobs where they earn normal wages for the hours they work.
They can keep all the money, apart from an amount which is deducted for board (up to $119 a week) and any fines or child support they may owe.
They work under minimal supervision when they are outside the prison grounds and, while Corrections says there haven't been any serious incidents, it has confirmed a number of breaches, including one case where an inmate was spotted at a Denny's restaurant having lunch when he was supposed to be working.
Corrections spokesman Robin Benefield said it was important to remember that most prisoners would be released at some point and if they had engaged in some form of work while inside, it could increase their chances of finding employment.
Benefield was aware there may be public misapprehension about the scheme but said Corrections did everything within its power to that ensure public safety was not compromised.
To be considered for the programme, prisoners had to be nearing their release or parole eligibility date and have no recent incidents in prison of violent behaviour.
All inmates - whether they be convicted murderers or sex offenders - were considered for the scheme, Benefield said. "We do not discriminate, we just consider the risk."
Victims were notified before an inmate was released for work and once out in the community random spot checks took place to ensure inmates did not abscond, Benefield said.
He confirmed "we have breaches all the time" but said they were minimal considering that, since July 1 last year, nearly 600 inmates around the country had participated in the scheme.
Some inmates were signed up by labour hire companies while jobs were found for others through the situation vacant columns.
Inmates were expected to find their own way to work, whether by taxi, bicycle or public transport, and had to be back at the prison at a pre-arranged time so they could be locked down for the night.
Benefield said most inmates had short-term type jobs but there were others who held down positions for up to a year. "If the person was a rocket scientist they could earn $100,000 but most jobs are unskilled so it's minimum wage," he said.
"This money can give these people a better start in life once they get out."
Peter O'Connor of labour hire company National Personnel said he had been contacted by Corrections to sign up inmates but had refused.
"I just wouldn't want to impose those types of people on my customers," he said.
