Employing prisoners in your business

The Department of Attorney-General and Justice, Correctional Services runs a paid prisoner employment program that allows large and small local businesses to employ prisoners outside of correctional facilities.

Businesses who take part have access to a reliable workforce.

This program is also called Sentenced to a Job.

Some money paid to prisoners goes towards board and lodging for their cell.

Victims of Crime Northern Territory are paid 5% and any fines the prisoner owes is taken from their wage. The rest of the money is held in trust for them after they are released, or can be paid to their family.

The Department of Attorney-General and Justice has partnered with the Batchelor Institute (BI) to provide accredited vocational, education and training (VET) for prisoners.

Prisoners are trained in workshops inside Northern Territory (NT) prisons.

Qualified and experienced supervisors train prisoners to be work-ready in a range of industries.

Industries prisoners are trained in

Prisoners are trained in various areas, including the following:

• catering and hospitality
• customer service
• woodworking
• horticulture
• chainsaw
• driver licence, forklift licence, bus driving
• scaffolding
• construction
• skid steer
• civil construction equipment
• small engine
• welding and general metal fabrication
• first aid, industry white card and occupational health and safety.

Ongoing support is also provided to all employers involved in the program.

Government employment grants are also available for eligible businesses across the NT.

Read more on business funding assistance.