Reform of prisons to focus on job training for inmates

The prison system is shifting its focus away from punitive justice and towards prisoner rehabilitation.

ABU DHABI // A senior Ministry of Interior official has revealed new details about how the prison system is shifting its focus away from punitive justice and towards rehabilitation. The reforms were launched last year following a directive by Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Minister of Interior. They were further spurred by a meeting with the Emirates Human Rights Association in June, where it is understood that ministry officials were told that freed inmates were finding it difficult to reintegrate into society.

In an interview with The National, Col Ali Juma al Shamsi, the ministry's deputy director general for Reformatory and Punitive Establishments, said the ministry was offering some Emirati prisoners access to social reintegration courses to prevent them from becoming disenfranchised from society and reoffending upon release. The courses are not offered to expatriate offenders because they are automatically deported on completion of their sentences.

Some prisoners are also being offered, in conjunction with private companies and government agencies, training to work as tour guides, firemen, paramedics, car mechanics, computer science technicians and office workers. "We decided to resolve this [issue] ... through joint co-operation efforts. We examined ways to promote better communication to keep the association well informed about the ministry's policies towards prisoners," he said.

Col Shamsi claimed that many inmates were already beginning to benefit from the changes and were showing less inclination to reoffend. He offered details about the programme instituted at Al Wathba Central Prison, which started offering a two-year social reintegration course last year in conjunction with the Higher Colleges of Technology's Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training. The programme, which was inaugurated in March 2007 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, is available to prisoners who meet certain admissions requirements.

When it was launched, 57 prisoners were shortlisted for the programme, and prisoners who are released before completing the course are offered the chance to complete their studies at the HCT, which has 16 campuses throughout the Emirates. Those who graduate will receive a diploma accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. A committee made up of members from the Abu Dhabi Executive Council was also formed to oversee the prisoners' progress and to help them find jobs after they graduated. The Ministry of Interior is also studying the establishment of a charity to support prisoners and their families.

The ministry, Col Shamsi said, further planned to organise a prisoners' day, where families of inmates would have the opportunity see prison conditions for themselves. "Social stigma tends to hinder reintegration of former prisoners into society," he said. He added that expatriate prisoners, who account for 85 per cent of the prison population, could also benefit from a range of activities and programmes while in jail.

Late last month, police unveiled plans for a new jail next to the existing Al Wathba prison that will house up to 5,500 inmates. Due to be completed in 2010, the jail is being designed to focus on prisoner rehabilitation in line with the reform efforts. @email:[e-mail]