When 'returning' to the community...

Get up after you fall.

Captain Dang Quang Dao, Head of My Son Commune Police, told us on the way to the home of Mr. Dang Van Quan in Hamlet 4 that: Unlike when he first returned to the area, when he felt somewhat ashamed and insecure, causing him to live a secluded life, he is now completely different...

Visiting the economic development model of Mr. Dang Van Quan's household, residing in Hamlet 4. Photo: D.C.

Indeed, as Mr. Quan shared: "In the early days after returning to my hometown, I felt lost. Fortunately, during that time I received a lot of help and encouragement from my family and the community, which gradually helped me feel comfortable, overcome all obstacles, and wholeheartedly dedicate myself to my work."

After serving a 27-month prison sentence for "disturbing public order," upon returning to his hometown, in addition to the encouragement from his family, Mr. Quan received timely support from the local government, organizations, and associations. This enabled him to proactively access loan capital to develop his economy. Currently, with over 45 hectares of acacia trees, each harvest brings his family more than 2 billion VND, allowing him to invest in livestock farming and fruit tree cultivation. Furthermore, he has also bid for a nearby dam to provide fishing services.

Furthermore, it is impossible not to mention the case of Mr. Dang Van The, residing in Hamlet 5, My Son Commune, who was once sentenced to death for transporting prohibited substances. However, with tireless efforts and rehabilitation over a long period, Mr. The was granted clemency by the competent authorities, who then submitted a request to the President for a pardon, commuting his sentence to life imprisonment.

After serving 18 years and 10 months of his sentence, in June 2016, Mr. The was granted amnesty and released from prison early. Recalling that time, Mr. The said that when he heard the news of his amnesty, he was very happy, but as the day of his return approached, he became worried and wondered where he would start over to stabilize his life, as well as how he would face his siblings, relatives, neighbors, and villagers...

Mr. Dang Van The. Photo: D.C.

Initially, Mr. The was very hesitant to socialize, but thanks to the encouragement and support of his family, local authorities, and businesses in the area, he soon reintegrated and returned to life. Currently, he earns a high income as a manager at a local transportation company. Notably, having been selected as a model example in the implementation of the "Joining Hands to Rehabilitate, Guide, and Reintegrate into the Community" model in the locality, in addition to his role as a source of positive energy, Mr. The has proactively advised the Party Committee, government, and organizations to visit, meet with, and understand the thoughts and aspirations of others in similar situations, as well as connect them with job opportunities.

Replicating the model

Mr. Quân and Mr. Thế are two of the outstanding individuals participating in the "Joining hands to rehabilitate and guide vocational training" model.reintegration into the community"This initiative was implemented by My Son commune. Captain Dang Quang Dao added: Due to the multifaceted impacts of society, the crime situation in My Son commune has remained complex in recent years. The number of people completing their prison sentences increases annually. Through monitoring, there are currently 27 people in the commune who have completed their prison sentences and are eligible for reintegration into the community. Most of their families face economic difficulties, and there is a risk of them being lured back into crime by other individuals if they are not managed, monitored, and educated in a timely manner."

Therefore, in September 2021, the Do Luong District Police directed the My Son Commune Police to advise the commune's Party Committee and government on building a model of "Joining hands to rehabilitate, educate, and reintegrate former prisoners into the community" in the commune and selected Dang Van The - one of 27 former prisoners eligible for community reintegration currently residing in the locality - to focus on building a model for community reintegration.

Mr. Dang Van The at the conference summarizing the model "Joining hands to rehabilitate, provide vocational guidance, and reintegrate into the community" organized by My Son commune in June 2022. Photo: CSCC

Following the launch of the model, the commune police, in coordination with various departments and organizations, organized propaganda, legal education, and provided assistance to the individuals involved in all aspects. To date, all 27 individuals have shown positive changes and significant progress, specifically, actively participating in labor and production, and engaging in local movements. Thanks to this, the security and order situation in the area has become increasingly stable, with a decrease in the number of incidents compared to the previous year. In the first six months of 2022, there were 2 incidents involving 5 individuals, compared to 8 incidents involving 14 individuals in 2021.

The above results were achieved through propaganda and mobilization of the people to raise awareness of law compliance and encourage participation in helping those who have committed offenses in the community. After the establishment of the Steering Committee, members were assigned specific tasks. In particular, experienced members were selected from the Steering Committee and from the hamlet level to form a consulting team, tasked with advising, answering questions, and regularly communicating to understand the thoughts and aspirations of the individuals involved. When Mr. Dang Van The was chosen as a model, his support helped other individuals who still felt somewhat inferior or ashamed to integrate more strongly, develop economically, stabilize their lives, and actively participate in the "All People Protect National Security" movement in the area.

Recognizing the aspirations of those reintegrating into the community to receive preferential interest rate loans for economic development, the local authorities have worked with the Social Policy Bank to support these individuals in accessing loans. Simultaneously, they have proactively engaged with local businesses regarding labor recruitment needs to guide vocational training and create suitable jobs. As a result, 24 out of 27 individuals have now secured stable employment.

The orchard of Mr. Dang Van Quan's family. Photo: D.C.

Speaking with us, Mr. Dang Van Truc, Chairman of the People's Committee of My Son commune, said: Based on the results achieved, the locality will further enhance the role and responsibility of the Steering Committee, departments, and mass organizations to ensure the model continues to be effective. Accordingly, appropriate and timely policies will be implemented for those who have completed their prison sentences and returned to the locality, such as land leasing, loans, vocational training, and job creation, to help them stabilize their lives, prevent recidivism, and contribute to ensuring security and order in the area.