Minister for Corrective Services, Mark Ryan MP and Commissioner Peter Martin APM have officially opened the new Maroochydore Community Corrections office at a ceremony on the Sunshine Coast this week.
The office is a fit for purpose facility that will allow the 21 officers to manage over 700 offenders who are under the supervision and care of Queensland Corrective Services in the Sunshine Coast community.
The relocation to the new office will allow officers to respond to the growth in offender numbers in the region and provide essential facilities including interview, program and urinalysis testing rooms as well as increased CCTV for the safety of officers and offenders.
Community Corrections aid in the rehabilitation of offenders by providing support, access to treatment programs, stable housing and meaningful community work that helps them live crime free lives in their community.
A part of this work includes offenders completing unpaid community service, which benefits a range of community groups, and gives offenders life and vocational skills that assist them to avoid reoffending.
Between July 1 2019 to June 30 2020, 8,139 hours of unpaid community service was completed by offenders reporting to the Maroochydore office, valued at $226,223 to the community.
Commissioner Martin said that the relocation provided a more appropriate workspace for officers to conduct their work.
“It is important that our officers have access to a facility that enables them to conduct their business effectively and with appropriate safety mechanisms in place,” Commissioner Martin said.
“Community Corrections Officers act as agents of change and help offenders correct offending behaviour, administering orders of the court and coordinating community service orders that enable and encourage offenders and to live as productive members of the community.
“They are often the unseen part of our business, but like all our officers, their work is incredibly important in keeping the community safe so I am pleased we are able to provide them this facility to support their work.”
The new office space is located at Maroochydore and services 85 suburbs across the Sunshine Coast.
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