Multi-Country-Analysis

Key Problems and Key Recommendations

regarding

5.1 Rehabilitation Programs and
5.2 Re-entry Programs

using assessments of nine countries:
Burkino Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, D.R. Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,
Mali, Niger, and Zambia.

1.    NINE COUNTRY-ASSESSMENTS (excerpts):

Burkino-Faso Assessment

5.1 Rehabilitation Programs. These programs exist and revolve around work, education, sports, literacy, and vocational training. But these programs are inadequate in the light of the high demand which is linked to prison overcrowding. Parole is based on rehabilitation efforts.

5.2 Reentry Programs. Family support exists and can take various forms (feeding, care, education, permission). We find that most of the prisoners are abandoned by their families, and these families generally give as the reason, the extreme poverty. The job placement measures on parole exist; it allows the early release of prisoners to engage in work which may be gainful or not.

Cote d’Ivoire Assessment

5.1 Rehabilitation Programs. This system does not exist. However there are local voluntary organizations which are trying to work in that way. But the aim is not reached because of limited means.

5.2 Reentry Programs. They have some programs for pre-release and reintegration into society. The system is called half freedom.

Dem. Rep. Congo  Assessment

5.1 Rehabilitation Programs. In many prisons there are no rehabilitation programs. In general, the prisons are not equipped for this. The law provides for a program of rehabilitation for prisoners as they exit the prison, but in practice this does not happen.

 

5.2 Reentry Programs. Parole is given for good behavior, provided they have served at least a quarter of the particular sentence. There is no assistance program for those going into prison or who are in prison or who leave prison. NGOs are called to do so, but they do not, for lack of funding.

The Gambia Assessment

5.1 Rehabilitation Programs. The prisons here in the Gambia do not have adequate formal education programs. However, inmates are taught the basics of certain trades such as carpentry, masonry, welding etc. Job skill development and work assignments in the form of community development work help to prepare the inmates for economic  survival when they are out of prison. Incarcerated persons are paid a certain amount of money that is only paid at the end the prison term. The rate paid, though, is very meager. The money is saved for their release.

5.2 Reentry Programs. There are no programs for pre-release or re-entry assistance for incarcerated persons. There is earlier release or parole based on rehabilitation efforts. Incarcerated persons who are terminally  ill or of exemplary character can be released before the term ends. There are no post-release educational, job-training, addiction-treatment, or mental health services available to ex-offenders.

Ghana Assessment

5-1 Rehabilitation programs. The prisons theoretically have adequate programs- for example primary, secondary, technical, vocational, and post-secondary education. Life-skills education programs are rarely implemented, but have started in some areas such as Nsawam Medium Security Prison, and the Kumasi Women Prison. There is education for incarcerated persons aimed at developing the whole person, including access to books, religion classes and cultural activities such as music or art, but due to overcrowding and lack of appropriate means, this purpose remains still hard to be reached. Job skill development and work assignments exist, which help to prepare for economic survival on the outside.

Last year, the Nsawan Medium Security Prisons, 36 km north of Accra, has started an educational program to provide opportunities for inmates and school dropouts to acquire a formal education. Sixty (60) inmates have so far been enrolled. The program which forms the President’s Special Initiative on Distance Learning started in January with primary, junior high, senior high and non formal education as well as information communication and technology (ICT).

The Program follows the normal system of the Ghana Education service. Other categories of prisoners were being trained in vocations like dye making, sewing, carpentry, joinery masonry, weaving, blacksmithry, and electronics and baking. In the same way civil society organizations and other philanthropists have been asked to complement the government’s effort by supporting prisons with teaching and learning tools to enhance teaching and learning.

5.2 Re-entry Programs. There are programs for pre-release, but there is no re-entry assistance for incarcerated persons. There is earlier release or parole based on rehabilitation efforts.

Guinea Assessment

5.1 Rehabilitation Programs. In detention facilities, there is no real curriculum and vocational training, there is no real program to develop a general knowledge for life. These existing programs can not bring the prisoner to a good rehabilitation.

5.2 Reentry Programs. There is no re-entry or rehabilitation assistance. An inmate, on the basis of its rehabilitation efforts, can not obtain an early or conditional release. In Guinea, once out of prison, that's it; there is no therapy; there is no rehabilitation program for ex-offenders.

Mali Assessment

5.1 Rehabilitation Programs. In Mali, they do not have proper education programs. At the prison in Bollet, one learns the alphabet and ironwork. In the central prison in Bamako,there is the alphabét and making art objects. In the prison in Bollet, for women, sometimes there is traditional clothing and soap and care of the hair, but this is not all the time. In some other prisons there are literacy classes that are offered. Administrators allow religious leaders to enter and talk with the detainees.

5.2 Reentry Programs. There are no pre-release programs to aid the return of detainees to society. Nothing is done to aid the reintegration of an ex-prisoner; he cares for himself. There are some NGOs working temporarily when they have the means to care for them.

Niger Assessment

5.1 Rehabilitation Programs. There are no educational programs in the prisons of Niger. Rehabilitation programs in general are absent, only a few rare workshop equipments and trainers remain somehow.

5.2 Reentry Programs. The State cannot provide rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners because of the extreme poverty in the country. The alcoholics, drug addicts, mentally ill, or normal are therefore left to themselves and the family during and after the detention of the prisoner.

Zambia  Assessment

5.1 Rehabilitation Programs. There are some job skill development and work assignments to help to prepare for economic survival on the outside. Successful rehabilitation programs worthy of emulation include the farming  and carpentry  projects where inmates produce food stuffs and furniture.

Due to lack of equipment and funds, some rehabilitation activities at the Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison had been abandoned. Such activities included carpentry and joinery, shoe repairing, tailoring, soap making, and academic studies.

At the Kabwe medium security prison, prisoners with teaching background provide academic education to fellow inmates from Grade 5 to GCE ‘O’ level. A prison officer coordinates with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the syllabus is followed.

The Munsakamba Open Air Prison has 28 hectares of land where inmates receive skills in maize and vegetable growing. The environment at the Open Air Prison was generally conducive to the rehabilitation of the prisoners. There was plenty of fresh air and the living quarters and surroundings were suitable.

The Prisons Service is running both academic and literacy classes. The major problem is inadequate up‐to‐date books in the libraries. Apart from the academic and literacy classes, there are inmates engaged in life skills. This group lacks workshop tools and machinery. It was recommended (by the human rights commission) to revamp these trade skills to not only fulfill the requirement for the rehabilitation of prisoners but also reduce the burden on the Government of providing basic needs such as soap and uniforms. These can be made by the inmates. It was further recommended that government allows the prison authorities to retain at least 50% of the monies they make from their ventures for their running costs. Things like plates, spoons and cups can be purchased with the proceeds from the ventures.

5.2 Reentry Programs. There are no programs for pre-release or re-entry assistance for incarcerated persons. There is earlier release or parole based on rehabilitation efforts. The criteria for early release is not based on compassionate grounds, health or age but reformation of character.

2a.   5.1 REHABILITATION KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

Report of the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education of Persons in Detention, 2 April 2009.
The Special Rapporteur recommends that authorities in charge of public education:
 

(a) Make available to all detainees, whether sentenced or in remand, education programmes that would cover at least the curriculum of compulsory education at the primary and, if possible, at the secondary level also;

(b) Together with the institutions of detention, arrange comprehensive education programmes aimed at the development of the full potential of each detainee. These should aim also to minimize the negative impact of incarceration, improve prospects of reintegration, rehabilitation, self-esteem and morale.

Education programmes should be integrated with the public system so as to allow for continuation of education upon release.

Education should be aimed at the full development of the whole person requiring, among other things, prisoner access to formal and informal education, literacy programmes, basic education, vocational training, creative, religious and cultural activities, physical education and sport, social education, higher education and library facilities.

NYS Coalition for Rehabilitation and Reentry

Social education could include topics of alcohol and drug management, anger management, alternatives to violence, and sub-topics of non-violent communication, cooperation, civic responsibility, and conflict resolution.

Prison Rules

http://www.unafri.or.ug/publications/prison.pdf 

Section 6 of the Prison Rules states: "At every prison there shall be a reception board consisting of the officer in charge and such other persons as the Commissioner may determine, who shall interview every prisoner as soon as possible aft his reception in prison and consider what arrangements are to be made for his/her training."

Ouagadougou (2002) Declaration on Accelerating Prison and Penal Reform in Africa.

Promoting the reintegration into society of alleged and convicted Offenders.

•  Promote rehabilitation and development programmes during the period of imprisonment or non-  
   custodial sentence schemes.

•  Ensure that unsentenced prisoners have access to these programmes.

•  Emphasise literacy and skills training linked to employment opportunities.

•  Promote vocational training programmes certificated to national standards.

•  Emphasise development of existing skills.

•  Provide civic and social education.

•  Provide social and psychological support with adequate professionals.

Making African prisons more self-sufficient.

•  Foster prison agriculture, workshops and other enterprises for the good of prisoners and staff.

•  Involvement of staff and prisoners in agricultural production and prison industries through the
   establishment of management committees.

Voting

Incarcerated individuals should retain the voting rights held by all other citizens within their country.

2b     5.2 RE-ENTRY KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
 

Ouagadougou (2002) Declaration on Accelerating Prison and Penal Reform in Africa.²

Early and conditional release schemes, furloughs and home leave – criteria for early release should include compassionate grounds based on health and age.

• Develop half way houses and other pre-release schemes in partnership with civil society groups.

- NYS Coalition for Rehabilitation and Reentry

·         Earlier release should be offered to most incarcerated persons, conditioned upon their successful completion of major rehabilitation programs.

·         Work release should enable  incarcerated persons, who have completed major rehabilitation programs, to leave a correctional facility each day to work productively in the community.

Local Directories

Establish local directories that describe all the local sources of help for formerly incarcerated persons. This should include possible sources of counseling, mentoring, job training, addiction treatment, and emergency food or housing. Encourage all small as well as larger contributors to the reentry effort.