RECOMMENDATIONSfor the development of the Practical Model of Gradual

Social IntegrationPANEL DISCUSSION

Moderator: Ms. Csilla VINCZEEducators’ Centre Association, HU

Question to prisoners (FROM A STUDY):

„In what ways do you need help?”ANSWERS:• Improvement of the social system:

– Employment possibilities – TO MAKE A LIVING– Living/housing possibilities– Provision of training and education

• Developing an accepting atmosphere:– Trust, honesty, no prejudice, inspiration to

change, shift in puiblic opinion

Recommendations

• Aim: – building of secure human/helping/civil relationships in

the penal institution,– gaining of confidence, the establishment of continuous

emotional security– preparation to reintegrate: training, improvement of

competences– the assistance of an accepting community are vital

issues in the reduction of the crisis of release and in the prevention of re-offence.

Recommendations• Scale of measures:

1. Policy – legal – authorities2. Community at large3. Labour market /employers / social welfare4. Education / vocational training5. NGO’s: model programmes, experiments6. Penal institutions: model programmes,

experiments7. Individuals

RecommendationsSocial workers in the penal institutions• social development of the prisoners• to establish/improve the subjective and

objective criteria of reintegration to the society, to train the staff of the penal institution

NGO’s, Penal institutions

RecommendationsConnection and cooperation between the staff of the penal institutions and the aftercare professionals

• to keep track fo the progress• to increase efficiency of supportive care

NGO’s, Penal institutions• to establish the legal background for these

Legal

RecommendationsThe social care system has to identify the target group

• similarly to handicapped, homeless etc.• they are also underprivileged, who need

help: rehabilitation / resocialisation / reintegrationLegal

RecommendationsIdentifying different target groups:

– long-term punishment (characterised by young age, low schooling, bad health, bad employment chances),

– young age prisoners,– women,– prisoners with special needs (migrants, former political

prisoners, drug addicts)

working out a flexible/adaptive methodology for working with them

Legal

RecommendationsProtection and enhancement of existing social and community ties

• family, relatives, friends• increased number and length of leave

from the penal institution• the social worker can help in this 2.6.7.

Community, Penal institutions, Individuals

RecommendationsPreparation for release

individual supportive care and group work by a professional teamFollowing the „life cycle”: within the penal inst. -> during release -> after release

NGO’s, Penal institutions, Individuals

RecommendationsEducation, work socialisation, training and vocation– the inmates are low educated and of low

social/economical standing, often unemployed– education increases their reintegration to the labour

market and to the society.– starting at elementary education, which is essential

but not enough.– secondary and vocational education in the penal

institutions has to be introduced.– training is not a „hobby” to spend time!Penal institutions, Education

RecommendationsThe vocation has to be „sellable” on the

market• survey of labour force needs has to be

conducted, monitored and coordinated by a professional team

• the released citizens are „helpless like leaves in the wind”

Legal, Labour market

RecommendationsWork socialisation training is possible through practice

• work in the penal institutions has to be made possible

Legal, Labour market, Penal institutions

RecommendationsSpecial programmes in the institution that aim to develop competences to improve employment chances

NGO’s, Penal institutions, Individuals

RecommendationsLabour authorities and organisations have to be involved in the employment issues of prisoners and former prisoners

• officially and on a systematic basis • the social worker can act as a connection

between the individual and the local labour exchange office offering job possibilities

Legal, Labour market, NGO’s

RecommendationsPossible authorities to be involved:

Lithuanian Labour Exchangehttp://www.ldb.lt

Lithuanian Labour Market Training Authorityhttp://www.ldrmt.lt/

Institute of Labour and Social Researchhttp://www.dsti.lt/

State Labour Inspection of the Republic of Lithuaniahttp://www.vdi.lt/

RecommendationsLegislation has to be made on the benefits of employing former prisoners

• the employers are reluctant to accept them (prejudice, mistrust, fixed ideas etc.)

• The labour funds have to provide a state subsidy to promote this process

Legal

RecommendationsAttitude of the employers have to be

changed to be more accepting• special „marketing” can be done• information dissemination (forums, events,

handouts, TV-spots etc.)

Community, Labour market, NGO’s

RecommendationsProtected workplaces / social welfare companies

• they are special:– flexible,– focusing on the employee,– but making profit at the same time.

• continuous market analysis has to be made to determine: marketable products/services, local/regional benefits (materials, natural resources, know-how etc.)

• pilot projects, experimentsLabour market, NGO’s

RecommendationsSpecial homes/shelters for the newly released have

to be set up• they provide a short-term solution of housing (one of the

biggest problems) while the released citizen takes the first steps.

• It is a complex service: human relations, housing, labour market services and education/training should be present there in a synergy.

• Supportive care and psychosocial work can be done until necessary (2-3 months).

• The rights and decisions are theirs! • Feasibility studies and legislation have to be made on this

topic.

ALL

Recommendations

What else? Any contributions?….