Dylan Voller Has Been Granted Early Prison Release

The Northern Territory teenager—pictured hooded and strapped to a chair, sparking the royal commission into youth detention—has been granted early release from prison.

Reports from the ABC confirm Dylan Voller will be involved in the BushMob youth offender rehabilitation program upon his release.

Justice Peter Barr, who made the decision, is convinced the program will help Voller gain life skills to reintegrate into the community.

Voller has been in and out of juvenile detention since the age of 11, for offences including car theft, robberies and—more recently—assault. His early release comes on the grounds he had been treated badly in prison.

Glad to hear that Dylan Voller has been released on bail into therapeutic Bushmob program. Took way too long to get to this point.

— Byron (@ByronStol) February 2, 2017

Justice Barr remarked he had to weigh up community threat (if Voller were to reoffend) with the supervised rehabilitation. The teen will face strict monitoring at BushMob, including electronic tracking bracelet.

Crown barrister Trevor Moses argued Voller had a history of breaching the conditions of his release on two previous occasions. However, Justice Barr said, “The grant of bail will give Dylan Voller the chance to prove his good behaviour.”

Fantastic news re: young #DylanVoller. Hope he's getting the type of rehab which will help him sort what he's been thru. @abcnews24

— aroha groves (@aroha_groves) February 2, 2017

He emphasised, in his ruling, the teenager will be given therapeutic assistance for post-traumatic stress disorder. The harrowing experiences he encountered at Don Dale were thoroughly documented on ABC’s Four Corners program.

Dylan Voller's been released from prison 8 mths early to participate in rehabilitation program Bush Mob, his sister Kirra is ecstatic @NITV pic.twitter.com/jIpCbDoUKb

— Elliana Lawford (@EllianaLawford) February 2, 2017

Voller’s family are utterly relieved after the long and tiresome legal battle. His sister, Kirra, said, “He’s away from the system that’s hurt him for so long now.”

“He’s got the chance to have the opportunity to be away from bullies and people who torment him and stand over him, so he’ll be able to stand with his head held high and live his life.”

Back in December 2016, Voller told the royal commission he thought he would die in detention, recounting what it was like to be physically restrained to a chair, hooded for hours on ended.

“The feeling of not being able to do anything; those officers could have done anything to me for that three-and-a-half hours and I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it,” he testified.

Voller’s lawyer Peter O’Brien is hopeful his client will be a role model; someone who will prove to the community reformation is possible.

Photo: the ABC