Craig Sidey is classified as a serious violent offender and has served 21 jail terms, for crimes related to his long-term heroin addiction.

Key points: Prisoners have told the ABC they chose to stay in prison to avoid parole conditions

Prisoners have told the ABC they chose to stay in prison to avoid parole conditions Legal experts warn this means prisoners are being released without monitoring

Legal experts warn this means prisoners are being released without monitoring The Adult Parole Board says its main priority is community safety

The 37-year-old was released on parole two years ago, but says he only lasted two days in the community before asking to be returned to jail.

He said tougher reporting conditions including regular drug tests and wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet were too hard to cope with.

"The only way I could get to these interviews all the time, was for my sister to drop everything and take me from here to there. I've done parole in the past and it was nothing like this time," he said.

"I would like to see someone with their head screwed on try and complete parole. It was something every single day."

He chose to return to jail and serve out his full sentence, a further year-and-a-half in prison.

According to figures released to the ABC by Victoria's Adult Parole Board, this practice of "maxing out" sentences is a growing trend across the state's prisons.

What are the figures?

The numbers of Victorian prisoners either choosing to leave jail unsupervised, or being denied parole, has jumped by more than 200 per cent in four years, according to the figures.

The numbers of Victorian prisoners either choosing to leave jail unsupervised, or being denied parole, has jumped by more than 200 per cent in four years, according to the figures. In 2012-13, 160 prisoners served their maximum sentence despite having an element of parole in their sentence. It more than doubled to 365 the next year.

In 2012-13, 160 prisoners served their maximum sentence despite having an element of parole in their sentence. It more than doubled to 365 the next year. By 2014-15, the figure nearly doubled again to 620.

By 2014-15, the figure nearly doubled again to 620. It dropped back to 538 in 2015-16, which is still a 235 per cent increase from 2012-13.

Why 'max out'?

The main benefit for a prisoner choosing to "max out" is that they are released from jail without any monitoring or reporting requirements.

In 2013 the Victorian government began making sweeping changes to the parole system after several high-profile murders by men on parole, including that of ABC employee Jill Meagher.

The subsequent reforms made it much harder for prisoners to get parole, made it compulsory for prisoners to undergo behavioural programs, increased reporting conditions on release and made it a criminal offence to breach parole.

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The Adult Parole Board said 7 per cent of eligible prisoners chose not to apply for parole during the 2015-16 period.

"During 2015-16, 1,841 or 93 per cent of eligible prisoners chose to apply for parole or re-parole. Of the 768 applications that were finalised during the year, 75 per cent were paroled or re-paroled," the statement said.

"This shows that the majority of prisoners use their time in prison to prepare for parole and are successful in their application."

The chair of Victoria's Sentencing Advisory Board, Professor Arie Frieberg told the ABC the new laws were encouraging some prisoners to avoid parole altogether, decreasing community safety.

"The more prisoners released without supervision, the greater the dangers. Although we can't eliminate the risk, I think we're increasing the risk," Professor Frieberg said.

The Victorian Law Institute's criminal law division's James Dowsley said prisoners were more likely to reoffend if they were not supervised.

"I think parole needed to be looked at but some of the unintended consequences (of the new laws) may make the community less safe," Mr Dowsley said.

The Queensland Government is now considering following Victoria's lead, and is reviewing its own parole system, after a parolee allegedly murdered an elderly woman in Townsville.

Sorry, this video has expired Victorian prisoners maxing out jail sentences to avoid parole conditions

Prisoners who max out

Former prisoner Mr Sidey said for the most part prison had been his home since he was a teenager.

"I actually find walking down the street more intimidating than walking into a prison yard," he said.

Craig Sidey chose to max out his jail sentence. ( ABC News: Scott Jewell )

He left jail a free man two months ago, without any reporting conditions or supervision.

Mr Sidey's long-term cell mate and good friend Patrick Honeysett, 41, has served 30 jail terms since he was a teenager.

He said his offences were all for drug related crime like theft and burglary.

"That's embarrassing, getting to my age now, and I'm not proud to say that. I've had enough. We say that for a long time but I've had enough," he said.

He made headlines in 2013 for escaping Dhurringile prison in country Victoria.

Mr Honeysett has also chosen to knock back parole in the past.

"I've been trying to get home to me kids and just stay home for years you know. I'd either do a crime or parole would have me back. I've got nothing hanging over my head. I don't have to go and report," he said.

Both men say they do not want to grow old in jail, but admitted it was likely they would return without a big change in behaviour.