Social Reintegration of Offenders P rogramme:

1. Social Reintegration of Offenders Programme: Reflections on Performance and Practical Aspects By Robert Omita Okoth, Assistant Commissioner for Prisons Welfare and Rehabilitation A Paper Presented at the UPS Social Reintegration Workshop at UNAFRI – Kampala, 20th January 2012

2. Objectives of the Paper • Progressively review the social reintegration program • Assess its current status • Discuss implementation guidelines and practical aspects of the programme • Emphasise reporting as a crucial aspect

3. Overview This project commenced in 1994 as a pilot. It was an action oriented research. Is now a fully fledged programme of the UPS. Covers the third part of the UPS mandate of reintegration of offenders

4. Overview cont… From Prison Back Home is now a success story from Uganda. Was one of the references when the UNODC was drafting the Reintegration of offenders’ guidelines. Best practices of the From Prison Back Home programme have been shared with various countries

5. Review of Performance • Consistency and sustainability since 1994 • Coverage in terms of numbers: 20 in 1994; 165 in 2010 • Coverage in terms of Number of correctional institutions: 04 in 1994 to 55 in 2010 • Number of Social Workers Involved: 12 1n 1994 to 70 in 2010

6. Effectiveness of Social Reintegration Interventions Community attitude General community attitude to the offenders due for release was most of the time lukewarm and suspicious. Yet in a number of cases, the community looked forward to receiving one of their own back home.

7. Initial response of community Out of the 165 cases in 2009/2010, 36 inmates (22%) had an outright negative response. 38% got a positive response. This is attributed to many factors such as; the prisoner’s nature of offence and behavior before his imprisonment.

8. Response after interaction with social worker Response of the community changed in a number of cases to positive after interaction with a Prisons Social Worker. From an initial number of 62 (38%) positive responses to the reintegration of an ex offender - 108 representing 65%, received a positive consideration after interaction of the local community with the social workers.

9. Analysis of Performance of Social Workers • A number of Social Workers write really good reports. • Most reports however, are partial and weak. • Lack of figures; photographs • Absence of direct quotations from, and dialogues with, the actors.

10. Quality of Social Workers Reports VARIABLES FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE POOR 54 32 AVERAGE 67 42 HIGH 34 20 VERY HIGH7 4 OTHER 3 2 TOTAL 165 100

11. Practical Aspects of the Programme Target Offenders Former condemned prisoners Mid and long term prisoners, i.e, 3 years and above Offenders who present difficulties of re entry Offenders who received no visitors Cases which require restorative justice initiatives (mediation, healing, reconciliation, etc.) Terminally ill and mentally sick prisoners Any other prisoner of assessed special need The inmate so selected must be willing to benefit from this kind of help.

12. Key Reintegration Parameters Social reintegration is very akin to an action oriented research. The key parameters include: • Possibility of mediation • Participation of social actors • Response of community; on one’s first contact, and after interaction with social worker • Need for Healing and reconciliation • Employment prospects; farming, vocational job, etc. • Rapid assessment of offender’s likelihood to reintegrate • Accurate documentation/ records

13. Project implementation Guidelines Contact with community actors It is important to emphasize that the first major stop for the social workers is the local authority of the area being visited. Use of inter personal and wider social work skills is paramount. Effectiveness and efficiency Focus must be put on effective and efficient interventions Value for money spent must be seen

14. Reporting parameters Mediation efforts Participation of social actors Initial response of community Response after interaction with social worker Healing and reconciliation initiatives Employment prospects; farming, vocational job, etc. Assess likelihood to reintegrate Report/quote important remarks by people encountered in the process

15. Reporting The social worker must compile a comprehensive report about his/her accomplishments. Your report users include: Government, through the CGP and JLOS RPCs of your respective region Officer in charge and other officers of your station. Photographic record of your visit is very desirable, as it is a very aesthetic physical and vivid accountability.

16. Conclusion • The social reintegration programme is mandatory and cardinal to all units. • All efforts ought to be put towards successful reintegration and reduction of recidivism. • The UPS is now putting greater effort in the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. END