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Description
The number of people serving prison sentences, detained, and prosecuted in 2018 was 74 0771. For many as 36 833 people, this was not their first prosecution (Prison Service Central Management Authority). This demonstrates the scale of the problem of people returning to prison and how great the need is for rehabilitation programs. The project addresses the problem of no institutional program being available to help people adjust and return to the community, family, and work upon release from prison. The project aims to develop an advocacy and transition development program for convicts, and also create regional advocates for rights and resettlement of former convicts. Working with a minimum of two experts, we will draw up basic the premises, concepts, and methodical and organizational standards for a transition program. We will organize public consultations and provide training for 3 people to act as self-advocates for inmates'' rights. We will open a former convict rights and active resettlement bureau to provide legal and psychological support. Advocates will conduct promotional measures in penitentiary facilities, advocacy in support institutions, and activation measures to create a positive image of former convicts in the local community. We will conduct training for 7 people throughout Poland, and subsequently provide them with counselling when the program is implemented. The measures are intended for former convicts and institutions in that environment that play an important role in the resettlement process. 50 people released from prison will receive direct assistance under the project. 3 people in the Silesian Voivodeship will take up self-advocacy activities, and 7 people from other voivodeships will be trained to conduct similar activities in their local areas. An inmate advocacy and resettlement development program will be set up, and recommendations will be made as to its systemic implementation.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the lack of support for people in and out of prison. In 2018, more than 35,000 people were re-sentenced. This shows that re-offending and returning to prisons is common. Unfortunately, there is a lack of readaptation activities to support inmates and prison leavers to return to social life, family and work. An equally big problem for people leaving penitentiary units is their stigmatisation, among others in public institutions. Moreover, support institutions do not cooperate and pile up bureaucratic barriers to accessing support, which discourages ex-prisoners and inmates from taking advantage of their offer. The Project Promoter developed a programme to develop inmate advocacy and readaptation activities. 13 people received training to prepare them to work as self-advocates and 4 of them were employed by the project. Their tasks included outreach activities, i.e. providing consultations to people in penitentiary units and after leaving prisons, and advocacy activities, i.e. participating in meetings with representatives of prisons and support institutions. A total of 223 consultations were provided. It was possible to establish cooperation with 5 penitentiary institutions (in Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Sosnowiec, Gliwice, Zabrze and Mysłowice), where support groups were conducted. A total of 69 men participated in the support groups. The programme was subject to evaluation, on the basis of which recommendations were developed for system implementation (part of the recommendations concerned self-advocacy). People in prison units received multidimensional support, both substantive and emotional. Of the 13 people trained in self-advocacy, some put their skills into practice by supporting other inmates in the project. Undoubtedly, this was an activating and empowering experience, raising self-confidence, sense of agency and influence. The self-advocacy activities contributed to raising the institution''s awareness of the needs of people after they have served their sentence, as well as breaking down harmful stereotypes. The programme for the development of advocacy and readaptation activities for prisoners and the recommendations for its systemic implementation are an important step towards systemic change in the area of support for former prisoners.
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