Hands joint to support people’s rehabilitation

Over the past 5 years of implementing Directive No. 33/CT-TTg dated December 5, 2018, of the Prime Minister regarding strengthening measures to ensure the reintegration of ex-prisoners into the community, the Police Department of Binh Duong has collaborated with various sectors and organizations in the province to adopt many effective and creative approaches.

Individuals are awarded certificates of merit by the People's Committee for their significant contributions to the community reintegration efforts for those who have completed their prison sentences. Photo: Ngoc Ha

Joint efforts of agencies and department

With the attention and direction of the provincial Party Committee, the provincial People's Committee, the cooperation of agencies, units, localities, and various strata of the people, in recent times, individuals who have completed their prison sentences upon returning to their localities have been visited, encouraged, provided legal knowledge, and introduced to loan opportunities to secure stable jobs and income, gradually reintegrating into the community.

The representative of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA) stated that the work of reintegrating the community for individuals who have completed their prison sentences has profound political significance, reflecting the humanitarian nature of the State. Every year, DOLISA plans, organizes training sessions, and provides consultation on vocational training for individuals who have completed their prison sentences in 9 districts and cities, with 650 participants involved. The department also sends members along with the provincial Employment Service Center to organize career counseling, vocational training support, job introduction, and implement credit policies for individuals who have completed their prison sentences at Bo La prison for 123 inmates about to finish their sentences. In addition, the unit has coordinated with Phu Hoa Prison (C10 Department - Ministry of Public Security) to sign a plan for cooperation to organize vocational training, career counseling, and certification for prisoners from 2024 to 2030 so that those who have completed their prison sentences can receive vocational training and obtain vocational certification to facilitate their job search. For businesses in the province, the department has sent a document to the companies requesting cooperation by recruiting individuals who have completed their prison sentences to work at their businesses, thereby contributing to the government’s efforts to support and assist those reintegrating into the community and stabilizing their lives.

On behalf of the Women's Union of the province, to enhance legal knowledge and ignite the desire to contribute among female inmates, the union has directed various levels of the association to coordinate in organizing propaganda and holding exchange activities, thematic discussions, sharing experiences on various topics, and providing many legal books to female inmates. In addition, regarding the work of reintegration into the community, the Interprovincial Association directs all levels of the association to directly participate in helping female prisoners and drug inmates through various forms such as visiting, encouraging their spirits, providing loan support, introducing job opportunities, assisting with bicycles for the children of the subjects, supporting medical treatment, and repairing homes with love, benefiting 634 individuals, with a total amount of assistance exceeding 7 billion VND.

Implementing Decision No. 22/2023/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister regarding credit for individuals who have completed their prison sentence, the province has directed agencies, units, and localities to create favorable conditions for those who have finished serving their sentences to borrow funds for production and business, thereby creating stable employment and contributing to reducing the rate of recidivism. As a result, the Social Policy Bank has provided loans to 47 individuals, with a total amount of more than 3 billion VND, and 144 individuals are currently in the process of applying for loans.

The expansion of models

Colonel Nguyen Thanh Diep, Deputy Director of the Provincial Police, highly appreciates the contributions of various levels and sectors in the reintegration work for those who have completed their prison sentences. At the same time, he hopes that in the coming time, agencies, departments, branches, mass organizations, political-social organizations, and local party committees and authorities will continue to implement the provisions of the 2019 Criminal Judgment Enforcement Law seriously and effectively; Directives, decrees, and decisions of the Prime Minister, as well as guiding documents and coordination regulations regarding the implementation of criminal judgments in the community and the reintegration of individuals into society. In this context, local police forces need to enhance management, supervision, education, and support measures for individuals serving criminal sentences at the commune, ward, or town level, as well as for those who have completed their prison sentences upon returning to the locality, in order to prevent recidivism and new offenses.

Currently, the whole province has 20 models and clubs that assist thousands of people who have completed their prison sentences. From these models, it is necessary to select suitable models to build, consolidate, and expand activities in line with the responsibilities, conditions, and capabilities of each level, each sector, and each agency to enhance the role of organizations, enterprises, and gradually improve the quality of activities of the established models. For individuals who have completed their prison sentence and return to their local area to focus on business and develop their foundations, they need to be commended to provide them with motivation to help them grow.

“To prevent individuals who have completed their prison sentences from reoffending, it requires the joint effort of organizations to provide vocational training, job consulting and placement, and career orientation; to encourage citizens and society as a whole to actively participate in eliminating all acts of discrimination and prejudice, and to support and assist former inmates in stabilizing their lives upon returning to their communities, actively working and studying to contribute to the development of the local area,” Colonel Nguyen Thanh Diep said.

From 2019 until now, the whole province has received more than 5,500 people who have completed their prison sentences returning to their localities. The number of people who have completed their prison sentences and have been guided to carry out the procedures for obtaining national identification cards is 4,468; guidance and consultation for clearing their criminal records are provided to 1,051 people; and procedures for registering their residence are handled for 1,088 people.

Reported by Quynh Anh – Translated by Vi Bao