A new and more efficient approach to dealing with domestic violence offenders could help NSW overcome its dire police officer shortage.
A strict electronic monitoring regime came into effect on Friday, which the government says will mean serious alleged offenders will either be behind bars or wearing an ankle bracelet.
People wanting bail on domestic violence charges carrying a maximum penalty of at least 14 years' jail - including sexual assaults, significant physical assaults and kidnappings - will be subject to round-the-clock monitoring under the scheme.
Deputy Premier Prue Car said the changes would streamline work for the police force - which is 2300 recruits short of full strength - rather than adding extra pressure.
"(Electronic monitoring) will ensure police can respond straight away if someone, in real time, has breached their bail conditions, not after the fact," she said.
NSW has procured 100 more electronic monitoring tags on top of the 1300 already in rotation.
Corrective services will monitor the serious offenders and alert police and potentially victims if a breach occurs.
Staff were well-placed to handle the extra workload, acting Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Leon Taylor said.
"When we detect someone is at risk, we will contact that person immediately to keep them safe," he said.
"We have worked really well over the last four months with police and other agencies to effect this change."
The monitoring and bail changes were flagged in May in response to a series of high-profile cases, including the alleged murder of young Forbes mother Molly Ticehurst by her ex-partner.
He was on bail for other, serious domestic violence-related charges at the time.
Queensland introduced similar electronic monitoring for bailed alleged domestic violence offenders in 2018 after a successful trial, while several other states are in the process of rolling out similar programs.
Experts believe it could be an effective approach, with NSW's crime statistics bureau suggesting sentenced offenders on the state's existing electronic monitoring program were 33 per cent less likely to commit another domestic violence offence.
But a lack of national uniformity on how to punish breaches of family violence orders was highlighted in a federal inquiry on Friday.
While most states' maximum jail terms are two years for breaches, the maximum fine in South Australia is $2000, $5550 in NSW and nearly $50,000 in Victoria, the parliamentary probe was told.
Victorian courts cannot make orders protecting children last longer than a year, while Queensland orders last seven years by default and SA's are ongoing.
"What we find in all kinds of areas where there is not legislative harmony, is it does hinder cross-border capacities for things to be relied upon, as well as education and awareness training," an official from the attorney-general's department told the inquiry.
An internal review is under way to find opportunities for greater consistency.
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