UPDATED 12:48pm: Phillip Smith's highly manipulative and deceptive character should have stopped him from being granted temporary release from prison.

That's the message from Corrections boss Ray Smith, who this morning released a summary of the findings of a review into how Phillip Smith fled the country.

MORE: Summary of review into Phillip John Smith's departure

Ray Smith says the department failed to keep New Zealand safe from the convicted murderer.

Ray Smith's called Phillip Smith highly manipulative and deceptive and, while technically eligible for temporary release, should not have been considered for it.

He's extended the suspension of temporary releases for other inmates to December 9 and is promising other changes.

He says Corrections was overly reliant on the sexual offender treatment programme which he had completed.

"And didn't balance that up with his other violent tendencies and manipulative behaviour.

"I think we moved too quickly to put him on a temporary release arrangement to test out his ability to reintegrate into the community."

Ray Smith also says there was an over-reliance placed on psychological reports.

He says the plan for Phillip Smith's temporary releases was overly ambitious and misinformed.

He says for his victims, this has been a terrible time, and he's apologised to them.

MORE: Corrections' 10 point action plan after Phillip John Smith's escape

Greater use of GPS is just one element of a crackdown on the temporary release of prisoners in the wake of the Phillip Smith debacle.

Corrections minister Sam Lotu-Iiga says it won't just be psychologists and custodial officers assessing prisoners.

"But also community representatives.

"I think the views of New Zealanders in how temporary release prisoners are to be allowed out."

Temporary releases will also be limited to just 12 hours at a time.

The review by Corrections' Chief Custodial Officer Neil Beales includes 13 recommendations, which Ray Smith says he will be introducing.

Ray Smith says they include attaching GPS monitoring devices to all prisoners on temporary release for home leave.

"No temporary release can exceed 12 hours. Right now only five people in the country can approve those."

Ray Smith also says a multi-disciplinary panel will be put together to consider all temporary releases.

It will be chaired by the prison manager and will include Police, CYF, a local community representative, psychologist and probation officer.

 

There will also be collaboration between Corrections and Customs, in a bid to stop any more offenders like Phillip Smith from beating the system.

Corrections to work closely with Customs 

Ray Smith says among the recommendations made by the department's Chief Custodial Officer, are plans to work closely with Customs.

"To make sure that should someone try to beat the system again in the way that Phillip Smith did from a temporary release, that there are border alerts on those people that are out on temporary release."

The Corrections boss says everyone at the department is disappointed by what happened in this instance.

"What I want to tell the public is that we've moved very quickly within two or three weeks to complete a review.

"We own what happened here, we are going to fix this problem, and as an organisation we will learn from it and make the system stronger."

The Government will also conduct an inquiry into Phillip Smith's escape.