Societal help for former convicts to rebuild their lives

Oyent performing an uplifting song during the YouTurn Day webinar.

THE support of family, friends and a community can be a catalyst when it comes to reducing cases of recidivism and helping former offenders transition back to society, say experts and social activists.Malaysian Care service development director Frederick Foo said reintegration for former convicts was incredibly difficult for individuals who did not have access to necessary support both inside and outside of a correctional facility.

“Reconciliation with family and friends is a big part of the reintegration process.

“We have found that with juvenile offenders, the majority of them are well-received by their families once they are released.

“However, this is not the case for adult offenders who are not always welcomed back.

“The situation is harder when they also have substance or addiction background as families become wary of taking them in,” he explained.

Foo was speaking during a YouTurn Day webinar on reintegration of ex-prisoners.

The event is part of a YouTurn Project (TYP) by Christian non- governmental organisation, Malaysian Care, that aimed to inspire the public to change their views and actions towards prisoners and ex-prisoners.

The project aspires to rebuild lives of ex-offenders by encouraging society to give them a second chance and a helping hand to earn an honest living as well as enable them to reintegrate well into society.

Prisons Department deputy commissioner Dr Kausalya Devi Sathoo said many inmates faced significant social adaptation issues, including family and community stigmatisation.

“This has an ensuing effect on their ability to find jobs and housing.

“Unless these former inmates receive help to face these issues, they keep getting caught up in a vicious cycle of failed social reintegration, reoffending and reconviction and social rejection.

“When they face such situations, returning to society is a big challenge.

“Efforts should be taken at three levels; prison-based rehabilitation programme, reintegration and their aftercare upon release,” she said during the session.

Kausalya said it was vital to help former prisoners secure jobs and accommodation, and they needed a suitable and continuous intervention programme to help them be crime-free.

“The Prisons Department has close collaborations with various employers who provide stable jobs with steady income.

“This strategic partnership ensures former inmates have a job, and kept involved and engaged with useful activities that keep them away from criminal activities.”

Kausalya said the recidivism rates among inmates released from prison and on parole are at 15.8% and 0.5% respectively.

“We have seen that the rates among parolees are lower because of efforts taken in the parole system to assist and support parolees to undergo rehabilitation within the community while serving sentences,” she highlighted.

Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd executive vice-president Datuk Dell Akbar Khan, who oversees security, safety, health and environment, said it had so far taken in about 200 Orang Diselia (supervised persons or ODS) under its Peka programme.

Peka, which stands for Peluang Kedua Anda (Your Second Chance), is a programme that provides training, upskilling and employment opportunities for selected offenders who are at the tail end of their sentence.

“Those selected are trained in the construction industry, with 14 being offered long-term positions,” said Dell.

“However, only six took up the job offer.

“Although this may seem like a small number, each person whom we are able to help can be considered a success.

“Community acceptance is one of the key factors in the success of the reintegration process,” he added.

Dell hoped programmes like this would assist the ODS’ transition back into society after their release from prison.

During the session, singer and songwriter Oyent Hazryl recounted his own tough journey of getting back on track after substance abuse.

Also on the panel was Suhakam complaints and monitoring division officer Muhammad Faiz Abd Rahman.

For more details about TYP, visit www.malaysiancare.my