In order for the ex-prisoner to successfully integrate into society, specialists work with him in the prison: they offer various programs, involve him in events, educate him, and also find him a job. However, not all prisoners are actively involved in resocialization. Those who do not want to change often end up behind bars again. Norwegians manage to resocialize prisoners much more successfully. As one of the programs they offer, for example, prison radio.
Prisoners have two choices as to how to serve their sentence behind bars: to look out of the window as day changes to night, or to get involved in various development programs in order to, as the inmate Julia (name changed) says, “correct the error in thinking”. It should be added that in order to qualify for early release, an assessment is made of how the convict spends his time in prison.
Resocialization is a set of various measures given to the prisoner by the prison, so that after the release the person will be more successful in the society and will not commit a crime again.
Inga Rimkus, chief inspector of the Resocialization Department of Riga Central Prison, says that resocialization is divided into social rehabilitation and behavior correction programs.
“Currently, the program has been reworked. It is called “School of Life 4”. In the “School of Life”, prisoners are given basic knowledge in various areas of life, such as communication skills, are taught how to prepare a CV, how to present themselves in job interviews, and so on. There is also a stress reduction and motivation program. Stress reduction will be more applicable to people who have committed violent crimes so that the person learns how to deal with stress. If he was once angry and punched someone in the face, now maybe he will go and read a chapter in the Bible and realize: “I can control my stress this way too.”
Many begin to convert to faith in prison. Every prisoner has the right to freedom of religion, so there are chaplains in the prison who organize various events for the prisoners – religious services, concerts, showing films with religious content, individually listening, baptizing and also getting married. The head of the resocialization department, Svetlana Trubachova, says that participation in these programs is voluntary.
There is not much interest in self-improvement and changing perception. Only less than a fifth of prisoners participate in the programs. Last year, the least number of prisoners participated in them – 79, as various programs were stopped due to pandemic restrictions. In other years, several hundred prisoners were involved. However, about half of the participants do not finish the program at all.
Prisoners can learn while in prison. Last year, inmates studied, for example, law, civil engineering, nursing, business psychology, public relations, theology and other sciences.
In prison, you can also learn a profession, for example, learn to be a hairdresser, seamstress, electrician, decoration worker, cook’s assistant and get other professions. One of the rights of prisoners is to be employed. Last year, a third of the convicts worked. convicts serving their sentences in open prisons are allowed to go to work outside the prison.
Last year, the average monthly salary after taxes for one convict was less than 80 euros.
It must be said that, for example, in Norway, ex-prisoners return to prison much less frequently. That’s about a fifth. Trubachova from the Prisons Authority explains that the key to Norwegian success is better prison infrastructure.
Nina is serving her sentence in Bredtvet women’s prison in Norway. She has been in prison for ten years, with two more to go. The woman does not want to talk about her transgression. Nina reveals that she participated in several resocialization programs.
“In Sweden, where I spent the first seven years of my term, it was possible to participate in a cognitive behavioral therapy program. I tried to learn how to control myself, especially my impulses, because I am a bit hot-headed. Similarly, in Sweden there was an emphasis on strengthening one’s health. There was a lot of yoga, meditation and also daily exercises that make the body strong and healthy. I did it. In Sweden, the prison had four large greenhouses. And I liked working with flowers, it allowed me to feel free. Since returning to Norway, I have participated in courses for various professions, from gardening to truck driving, as well as dog training courses. It was very, very nice to get close to a living being after such a long time. And, of course, the prison radio.”
Norwegians have had their own prison radio for ten years. RøverRadion is a weekly program produced by inmates in five prisons. In 2017, the program became the first prison radio in the world to broadcast outside a prison. Today, this program is listened to by tens of thousands of people all over Norway.
Such radios exist in various forms all over the world: in the USA, India, Australia, Israel, Great Britain, Poland and elsewhere. The prison radio not only gives prisoners the opportunity to express their opinion, but also tells and explains about crime and the judicial system. Nina believes that radio is necessary in every country because it helps to bridge the gap between the prisoners and the society on the other side of the prison walls.
There is no prison radio in Latvia, and there is no indication that such a project could arise.
Resocialization must not end with the convict’s return to society. The process must continue. Norwegians manage to resocialize prisoners much more successfully, because as they themselves admit, the prison system is what society is. If the society does not want to accept the ex-prisoner, it will be more and more difficult to reduce his return behind bars.
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