Prisoners are attempting to forcibly convert their fellow inmates to religion against their will, internal Corrective Services documents show.

Key points: Report says prisoners who are extreme threats are being released into the community

Report says prisoners who are extreme threats are being released into the community Documents do not explain whether high-risk inmates are monitored when on parole

Documents do not explain whether high-risk inmates are monitored when on parole Isolation of violent inmates is sometimes the only way to protect security staff and visitors

ABC News has obtained New South Wales Government documents detailing a fight that broke out over religious lines in a Corrective Services facility last year.

The report notes the trigger was a group of prisoners attempting to forcibly "convert non-Muslim inmates to Islam".

The documents, which are censored in sections, were obtained under the GIPA Act and do not detail the specific Corrective Services facility.

They said quick intervention by prison staff appeared to have "broken up" the melee "before it could get out of hand".

The incident report provides a rare glimpse of the challenges faced by Corrective Services staff, who manage large groups of dangerous inmates, some seeking to indoctrinate others with radical views and extremist ideologies.

Extreme threats in the community

Prisoners seen as extreme threats while behind bars are still being released into the community, according to the documents.

ABC News has obtained operational procedures detailing the different categories and threats associated with dangerous inmates, including terrorists and members of bikie gangs.

A Corrective Services spokesperson confirmed there were 34 inmates in NSW who have been convicted of or charged with national security offences, designated as either a Extreme High Risk Restricted (EHHR) — the state's highest designation — or National Security Interest (NSI).

The documents also explain discharge procedures, which confirm inmates with an "Active Extreme Threat Inmate (ETI)" status are sometimes released from jail.

Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin said laws had recently been changed to ensure dangerous inmates were not granted parole.

Commissioner Severin said it would be "logical" for similar laws to apply to inmates who remained an extreme threat at the time of their release.

"I think it would only be logical to have continued detention powers, through legislation, where courts can make those decisions, like we already have with sexual offenders and extreme violent offenders," he said.

The documents do not explain whether high-risk inmates are tracked or monitored in the community by either intelligence agencies or police surveillance after their release.

In a statement, Corrective Services confirmed it engages with "various State and Federal Government agencies to develop programs and services" to target "high-risk offenders" and that it is working to "enhance its capabilities in this area".

Huge expenditure on anti-radicalisation programs

Earlier this month, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a $47 million suite of new anti-radicalisation measures, including the creation of 30 extra Supermax places and an extreme security unit to house dangerous inmates inside Goulburn jail.

The documents outline a suite of policies and procedures for prison staff to assess, manage and attempt to reintegrate dangerous inmates.

This can include monitoring and recording of calls, mail and visitor conversations — including those in languages other than English.

"Then the practice is to disperse them ... to engage with them, to deradicalise," Commissioner Severin said.

"If that does not work, then we obviously need to consider the most secure way of managing them in our system."

Dangerous behaviour is managed with a system of verbal and written warnings, behaviour management plans and ongoing security reviews by prison staff, including intelligence experts.

While a range of counselling and psychological programs are available as treatment options, the documents suggest the isolation of the most extreme, violent inmates in High Risk Management Correctional Centres is sometimes the only way to ensure the security of staff, prisoners and other visitors.