Resocialization is a person’s adaptation to new living conditions in society. And most often people who have been released from prison face this process. For former prisoners, release is often not such a happy event.
They face very great difficulties that are not always easy to solve. And to help such people, special services are created, the work of which is regulated by relevant legal acts and laws.
The legislative framework
List of federal acts and laws that talk about socialization and assistance to those released from prison:
- Criminal Executive Code of the Russian Federation, Chapter 22 “Assistance to convicts released from serving their sentences and control over them.” It spells out the main responsibilities of the administrations that carry out punishments in assisting and assisting those released from prison, in monitoring them, as well as the rights of those released themselves to employment, household arrangements, etc.
- Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 25, 2006 N 800 Moscow “On the amount of a one-time cash benefit that can be issued to convicts released from prison.” The benefit amount is 720 rubles.
- Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 262 of December 30, 2005. “On approval of the regulations on the social protection group for convicts of a correctional institution of the penal system.” It talks about the creation of special schools to prepare convicts for release, holding various conversations, courses to create the preconditions for resocialization, etc.
- Order No. 2 of January 13, 2006 “On approval of instructions on providing assistance in employment and everyday life, as well as providing assistance to convicts released from serving their sentences in correctional institutions of the penal system.” The procedure for providing assistance to former convicts is described, information about free travel, clothing, food, and so on, about what assistance is provided to the disabled, minors, women, the elderly and other categories.
- Federal Law of April 6, 2011 N 64-FZ “On administrative supervision of persons released from prison,” etc.
Where can a convicted person go for help?
Where can I get financial assistance after release? It must be issued along with personal documents by the administration of the penitentiary institution.
Also, according to Federal Law No. 178, if a person’s income is below the minimum subsistence level, then he has the right to contact the territorial social protection body and receive additional financial benefits.
The payment of funds until you get a job will be carried out by the employment service. A former convict needs to register as unemployed and must have the following documents with him:
- passport;
- employment history;
- certificate of income for the last three months - this is necessary to calculate unemployment benefits;
- document on education, specialty, qualifications - if any;
- SNILS and INN.
The amount of unemployment benefits will depend on the average salary for the last 3 months, as well as length of service. In addition to paying benefits, the employment service will provide assistance to the former convict in finding employment.
Regional programs
The number of different social programs that help prisoners rehabilitate is very small. For example, they can help with adaptation, employment and other areas of life:
- Autonomous non-profit organization "Center for Social Rehabilitation and Adaptation" is located in Kazan. The rehabilitation program is to reduce the number of recidivism among former prisoners and integrate them into society. Assistance is provided in finding work, constant communication, and providing housing, clothing and food.
- The regional state institution “Crisis Center for Assistance to Women and Children” in the Lipetsk region provides temporary housing and provides the former prisoner with all the basic necessities.
The main areas of activity of the social service for the resocialization of the convicted person’s personality
The work of the social service is one of the main components for the successful adaptation and resocialization of prisoners in the modern world and for reducing the incidence of repeated crimes. This is a special type of providing social assistance to people in need of both material and spiritual support.
All activities of these specialists are carried out in accordance with the Regulations on the social protection group of convicts of a correctional institution of the penal system and order No. 2 of January 13, 2006. “On approval of instructions on providing assistance in employment and everyday life, as well as providing assistance to convicts released from serving their sentences in correctional institutions of the penal system.”
Even six months before the release of the prisoner, the administration of the correctional facility is already beginning to work in several areas of his resocialization. These areas include resolving issues of labor and living arrangements, educational and psychological classes, and clarification of basic rights and responsibilities. They notify local government authorities and the federal employment service about the imprisoned prisoner's upcoming release, his ability to work and the number of working specialties. They also check information about housing availability.
The prisoner can write a written statement choosing a place of residence and looking for work . The task of the PS is to bring this information to the administration at the place of his residence and send the necessary requests. After receiving the results, this information is transmitted to the prisoner himself.
In certain cases, correspondence is conducted with relatives and friends of prisoners, issues regarding the provision of living space, as well as other necessary elements of everyday life, are jointly resolved. The correctional officers themselves conduct various psychological and educational conversations, explaining the basic rights and responsibilities that must be observed after leaving prison.
Thus, the main tasks of resocialization of prisoners include :
- individual identification of the presence of psychological and social problems, fears and phobias and assistance in getting rid of them;
- assistance in finding housing and work;
- restoration and strengthening of ties with relatives;
- providing social protection to all categories of convicts (children, disabled people, pregnant women, the elderly, the sick, those suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, those without a specific place of residence, etc.);
- assistance in finding a job after actual release;
- resolving issues related to benefits, pensions, etc.;
- work on the restoration and preparation of the necessary documents proving the identity of the convicted person;
- involving the public and social protection specialists to provide assistance.
Let us separately consider the implementation of work with released juvenile prisoners.
It also begins six months before release. The correctional institutions contact the children's relatives and relatives, inform them about the upcoming appearance, indicate the date of the child's release and offer to arrive at the colony at that time to meet and accompany him. For children under 16 years of age, it is mandatory to be accompanied home by relatives or correctional officers .
As a rule, convicted minors, after serving their sentences, are sent to the place of residence of their parents or close relatives. If the child is an orphan who has no close relatives, then the administration of the colony sends a request to the relevant guardianship authorities and informs them about the main details. The issue of the child’s place of residence and his provision is also resolved here. In some cases, convicted minors are sent to boarding school.
To resolve issues regarding household and labor arrangements, various boards of trustees are involved, which are created within educational colonies.
Actions of the IC administration
Preparation of a convicted person for release begins in advance - the administration of the correctional institution sends information about him to the employment service and local government authorities at the citizen’s place of registration.
The notification to the employment service indicates the citizen’s skills, his specialty, and the characteristics of his work activity. As for local authorities, they must be informed, first of all, about the presence or absence of housing for a former convict. They, in turn, must take measures to provide material and housing support for the person.
As for the direct responsibilities of the administration of the penitentiary institution, they must do the following:
- On the day of release, give the citizen his personal belongings (if any) and documents.
- Pay a one-time financial allowance in the amount of 850 rubles and funds that were earned by the convicted person in the colony (if any).
- Provide him with clothing appropriate for the weather.
- Provide free travel to your place of residence: this can be an already issued travel ticket or an equivalent cash payment.
Please note: the rights of former convicts are spelled out in Article 182 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation.
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Stages of preparation for adaptation to society and employment
Educational work in preparation for release begins with convicts six months before leaving prison. A set of measures to prepare a prisoner for adaptation to society consists of internal and external work.
In the correctional institution itself, various events are organized aimed at developing good skills and knowledge in convicts, support and moral assistance. For example, trainings are conducted. Very often, cultural events are organized where prisoners can work together and communicate with each other. This also helps to form social adaptation qualities in the modern world.
Psychologists and other specialists are invited, conversations are held with prisoners , all their fears and experiences are revealed. Work is underway to combat all these phobias.
Various seminars are held where current and popular topics from life are discussed. Psychologists, in turn, try to create favorable conditions for communication and interaction with prisoners, highlight their good qualities, etc.
In most regions, PSs interact with government, public and religious organizations and institutions. Special regional programs for the recovery and rehabilitation of prisoners are being created . These programs organize special courses for convicts to assist in social rehabilitation.
In the correctional institutions themselves, “Preparation Schools for Release” are held, in which prisoners are informed about special authorities that can help after leaving prison, and also develop skills for adapting to society. Here, in classes, they talk about the future possible employment of convicts, instill their interest in work and work, and develop the application of acquired skills in practice.
Career guidance work plays a colossal role in this regard, thanks to which each of the convicts can try themselves in one or another field of activity, test their abilities and desires.
Very often, various clergy come to churches on the territory of prisons and colonies and talk with prisoners. And if they wish, after their release, prisoners can go as ministers to monasteries, where they are provided with accommodation, food and work.
Thus, comprehensive assistance to convicts who are released from prison is very important and necessary . It is the interaction of various spheres of life that produces the most effective and productive results.
Read other materials about correctional institutions:
- How do those living in prison live?
- First mover.
- The most terrible prisons in the Russian Federation.
- Pre-trial detention center.
- Imprisonment under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
- 5 current ways to transfer money to a prisoner in a colony.
- Is a certificate of release from prison a document and identification document?
- Rules and features of revocation of probation.
- What does it mean to “sit on the lip”?
- 20 crimes for which life imprisonment is imposed in Russia.
For crimes against sexual integrity and sexual freedom of the individual
Those convicted of crimes against sexual integrity and sexual freedom of the individual often attend psychologists' classes. Unlike other categories of prisoners, they are treated by sexologists or sex therapists.
Experts explain the reasons for the origin of this psychological disease, guide the convict on the right path, using various techniques (viewing short psychological films, gradual resolution of the patient’s psychological problems, etc.).
Disabled people
For the disabled category, special training sessions are created to study adaptation to a world with certain diseases. More often than others, doctors come to them and conduct courses of treatment and recovery. During conversations, psychologists put prisoners in a positive mood, convince them that it is possible to live in a world with any illnesses or disabilities, that you need to get used to it and not give up.
For such convicts, tests are created to check their pessimistic attitude. When suicidal tendencies are identified, a set of measures is taken to eliminate such thoughts. Often these categories are given various psychological books to read, which tell us step by step how to behave and deal with their shortcomings and illnesses.
