Integritus Prime

I read up on the Yellow Ribbon SG Beyond Second Chances program in Singapore and realized that being in prison, even for a short while, has long-term consequences. Once released, ex-prisoners face a “social prison” in the community, especially if they are not given a second chance to lead a regular life after being incarcerated.

The Yellow Ribbon SG (YRSG) program was established not only to provide professional training for offenders but also to offer them jobs and long-term career opportunities. In addition, the program helped families accept the ex-convicts back, and assisted communities to reintegrate them successfully.

The YRSG program’s vision is to:

• Build bridges of hope for offenders and their families,
• Contribute to a safer community by successfully reintegrating offenders, and
• Exemplify and lead in creating a more compassionate society that offers second chances.

The program looked at the difficulties the ex-offenders faced, while reintegrating into the community, and addressed three major issues in this program: employer engagement, skills training, and career facilitation. The inmates were given skills training and they were prepared for employability once released. This would allow them to be productive and contribute positively to the community.

Apart from the above commitments, YRSG has a Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-prisoners or (CARE) Network, which is an “alliance of various Social Services Agencies and Government Organizations dedicated to community engagement, coordination of aftercare efforts and enhancing service delivery for ex-offenders and their families”.

In Fiji, there is a similar Yellow Ribbon project, as part of Fiji’s Correctional Services. We wrote about one of the outcomes (Creative Writing project) in an earlier blog. A number of offenders shared in their writing why they did what they did. Some inmates were grateful for the three meals and a bed to sleep on, which they did not have prior to being incarcerated. They had either run away from their homes or were kicked out for various reasons. The themes of being deprived, bullied, and abused were pretty common.

These YR programs were not only to rehabilitate the offenders, but also to create a more caring and compassionate community. As discussed in our earlier blog, common reasons inmates take a dishonest or violent path are embedded in their experiences as children or young adults. Lack of education; following poor role models; being bullied or abused; and extreme poverty led some of them to make poor choices. The need to survive in a harsh environment led to stealing, assault and other types of violence, causing harm to victims and turning perpetrators into inmates.

Like many people in the community, I used to think that offenders are a write-off and can never improve their behavior. I have been robbed, my home has been invaded a number of times, and some of my loved ones were killed for no apparent reason. So, of course, I never wanted to trust an offender again. I met and medically examined many offenders in the line of duty and to me they looked cruel and menacing.  Some were repeat offenders, who were brought for medical check-up after being on the run for days before getting caught. 

It is only recently that I started seeing examples of inmates who have changed for the better, given a chance. Some do it on their own while they are locked in isolation, while others need a supportive environment. The YR project provides a platform for inmates who are willing to change.

The YR project and similar initiatives provide opportunities to bring out the hidden talents in inmates; such as art and creative writing; technical and carpentry skills; as well as cooking and baking. Some inmates pursue formal studies to gain a diploma or degree in various fields. However, the support needs to continue until after confinement, because ordinary people like me don’t know that ex-prisoners have redeemed themselves and are on the right path. If the community does not know, then discrimination and negative attitudes continue. Hence, the work of the CARE Network or similar organizations is essential for the wellbeing of ex-offenders.

Communities, including families, where these offenders come from need to recognize the type of environment they are providing for our people, especially the young and vulnerable. If given a supportive environment, they may not make wrong choices and end up behind bars. For those already incarcerated, it is not only the government or the correctional services that has to provide the supportive environment for inmates to reform themselves; it is the whole community’s responsibility, as after the period of incarceration they will come out to live amongst us.

Share with us your thoughts on the benefits or otherwise of the YR project or similar initiatives in your area. Is there a way you can help to prevent people from ending up behind bars or help inmates redeem themselves?