Vic parole system under-resourced: review VICTORIA'S parole system is unable to properly scrutinise or monitor violent offenders due to a lack of resources, a review says. The system relies on paper files and a workforce of young supervising officers - mostly women - to manage criminals who can be violent and manipulative. Breaches of parole are very frequent and can go undetected, a consequence of limited resources, the review found. The review says the Adult Parole Board has been releasing violent and sexual offenders far too easily, adding financial pressure could also have contributed to offenders being released early. "It costs much less to release an offender on parole than to keep him in prison," the review said. No doubt the overcrowding and expense of prisons provide a further incentive for release as soon as possible. Review author former High Court judge Ian Callinan also said turnover of parole officers is high and the low salaries make it difficult to attract qualified workers. He believes better support for offenders would lead to better outcomes but says a lack of sympathy for offenders limits the amount of funding likely to be allocated. "If potential criminals can be diverted into leading different lives, society and its economy will greatly benefit," Mr Callinan said. Even well-intentioned offenders who are ill-equipped to survive in a non-institutional setting can lapse. Upon release offenders who have been incarcerated for lengthy periods can find themselves in a new world, and often lack support, the review found. "Many prisoners will be adrift within hours," Mr Callinan said. Parolees cannot be supervised around the clock. To be effective, surveillance would be labour-intensive, he said. The review found more parole officers are needed, and they need to be better trained. Officers appear to be highly conscientious but they are not adequately rewarded, Mr Callinan said. For many, it is their first full-time job before they go on to take up better paid positions elsewhere. "Parole supervisors are often young women with reason to be intimidated by violent and strong or overbearing men," Mr Callinan said. It cannot be overlooked that many experienced offenders well understand the system and are capable of manipulating it.