Focus on employment and loans for reformed offenders.
(Baonghean.vn) - The sympathy, care, and assistance from all levels of government, organizations, and the community, along with policies supporting loans and job creation, are important motivations for those who have completed their prison sentences or been granted amnesty to overcome their feelings of shame and have the motivation to rebuild their lives.
SUPPORT SOLUTIONS
According to compiled data from the Criminal Enforcement and Judicial Support Police Department of Nghe An province, as of November 10, 2023, a total of 4,889 people in the province had completed their prison sentences and returned to their localities.
To help offenders reintegrate into the community and become useful members of society, based on the implementation of legal regulations and directives from the Government and the Ministry of Public Security, the Provincial People's Committee has issued numerous plans and directives on the work of criminal sentence enforcement and community reintegration in the province. Accordingly, all levels, sectors, and localities have focused on promoting awareness among agencies, social organizations, collectives, individuals, and all strata of the population regarding the management, education, and assistance of those who have completed their prison sentences and returned to their localities…
Many community reintegration models have also been implemented, such as: "Effective public mobilization in community reintegration work" in Thai Hoa town; "Joining hands to rehabilitate, guide vocational training, and reintegrate former prisoners" in My Son commune, Do Luong district; "Joining hands to help those who have made mistakes" in Nghi Thu ward (Cua Lo town); "Friendship Club" of the Women's Association of Vinh Tan ward (Vinh city); "Leveraging the combined strength of the political system, mobilizing all strata of people and businesses to participate in managing, educating, and assisting those reintegrating into the community" in Xuan Hoa commune (Nam Dan), Hung Xa commune (Hung Nguyen), Nam Son commune (Do Luong)...
The care and support provided through models and activities like the ones mentioned above have helped those who have completed their prison sentences or been granted amnesty to find a foundation to rebuild their lives. Mr. SVM (born in 1996), residing in Hiep Phong village, Thong Thu commune (Que Phong district), after serving an 8-year and 3-month prison sentence for illegal drug trafficking, returned to his hometown in 2022 and said: “In the first few days after returning and reintegrating, I felt lost. But with the help and encouragement from my family and community, I gradually overcame my feelings of shame and became enthusiastic about working. Currently, in addition to tending 10 hectares of acacia trees, I also focus on raising pigs and frogs to stabilize my economy and increase my income.”
Similarly, Mr. D.V.Q, residing in Hamlet 4, My Son Commune (Do Luong District), said: “After serving a 27-month prison sentence for the crime of ‘Disrupting public order,’ upon returning to the locality, in addition to encouragement from my family, I also received timely support from the government, organizations, and associations in the locality, which motivated me to develop economically.” It is known that currently, besides the income from his family's 45 hectares of acacia trees, Mr. Q. also invests in livestock farming, fruit tree cultivation, and has bid on a nearby dam to provide fishing services.
DIFFICULTIES
Despite receiving much support and facilitation, observations reveal that those who have completed their prison sentences or been granted amnesty and returned to their communities still face numerous difficulties in reintegrating into society. This is because coordination and collaboration have not been truly effective, and there is still a reliance on the police force. Funding for community reintegration efforts is also limited and does not meet the needs, so most efforts remain confined to propaganda and mobilization…
However, the most difficult issue remains employment. According to local authorities, some businesses require background checks during recruitment, making it very difficult for those without expunged criminal records to be hired. As a result, many people cannot find jobs after release and are exploited by criminals, leading to recidivism. Some individuals do not return to their registered addresses after release and do not report their place of residence to the local authorities; many cases involve people working far away without reporting their temporary absence, causing difficulties in management and assessment for expunging criminal records…
Currently, 168 people are under the management of the district's community reintegration program. Recognizing the desire of these individuals to access preferential interest rate loans for economic development, the local authorities have worked with the Social Policy Bank to support them in obtaining loans. Simultaneously, they have proactively engaged with local businesses regarding labor recruitment needs to guide vocational training and job creation. However, in reality, the number of individuals who have accessed loans and been hired by businesses remains low.
MR. LO MINH DIEP - HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WAR INVALIDS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS OF QUE PHONG DISTRICT
According to Major Hoang Van Hiep, Head of the Dien Hai Commune Police Station in Dien Chau District, from 2012 to October 2022 alone, the commune had 50 individuals who had completed their prison sentences, a relatively high number compared to other communes in the district. Currently, most of these individuals still lack stable employment, and a small number have re-offended after serving their sentences. This provides a basis for the commune to develop a model of "Community Reintegration and Economic Development." However, regarding loan support, in reality, besides meeting conditions such as complying with the law, not participating in social vices, and being confirmed by the police and the Commune People's Committee and listed with the Social Policy Bank, the current loan amount is still low compared to the needs, especially for production and business activities of local individuals such as restaurants and carpentry workshops.
According to Mr. HNA, residing in Hamlet 4, Dien Hai Commune, the current loan regulations, as stipulated in Decision No. 22/2023/QD-TTg dated August 17, 2023, of the Prime Minister on credit for individuals who have completed their prison sentences, stipulate a maximum loan amount of 4 million VND/month/person for vocational training and apprenticeship; and a maximum loan amount of 100 million VND/person for production, business, and job creation. For the purpose of production and business, specifically running a restaurant like Mr. A's, this loan amount is too low and does not meet his needs, so he has to resort to other forms of borrowing.
Regarding this issue, the leaders of the Criminal Enforcement and Judicial Support Police Department of Nghe An province told us that, in order for those who have completed their prison sentences or been granted amnesty to stabilize their lives, in addition to providing employment opportunities, timely financial support is needed so that they can become self-reliant in production and business. Only then will the reintegration into the community be truly effective, aiming to limit and prevent recidivism.
