Ten prisoners from the Otago Corrections Facility (OCF) have received a pre-Christmas present from the Government by being given an early release.
All of those approved for the festive gesture from the Department of Corrections left Milburn earlier this month.
OCF manager Jack Harrison said the Christmas early release scheme was specifically authorised in the Parole Act and allowed the department the discretion to grant early release to offenders who were due to be released between December 15 and January 5.
Any prisoner who presented a public safety risk was not considered.
The department considered a prisoner's reintegrative needs, community safety and the integrity of the prisoner's sentence when deciding who would be released.
"Early release helps smooth the released prisoners' transition back into the community by allowing them to look for employment, organise accommodation and make contact with . . . support agencies before these organisations close over the Christmas-New Year period," Mr Harrison said.
