Care about jobs and loans for people who have completed their sentences
(Baonghean.vn) - The sympathy, care and support of authorities at all levels, organizations and communities, along with policies to support loans and create jobs, are important motivations for those who have completed their prison sentences and those who have been pardoned to overcome their complexes and have the motivation to rebuild their lives.
SUPPORT SOLUTIONS
According to statistics compiled by the Criminal Enforcement and Judicial Support Police Department of Nghe An Provincial Police, as of November 10, 2023, the whole province had 4,889 people who had completed their prison sentences and returned to their localities.
In order to help those who have made mistakes have the conditions to reintegrate into the community and become useful people for society, on the basis of implementing the provisions of the law, the direction of the Government and the Ministry of Public Security, the Provincial People's Committee has issued many plans and official dispatches on the work of executing criminal sentences and reintegrating into the community in the area. Accordingly, all levels, sectors and localities have focused on promoting propaganda work for agencies, social organizations, collectives, individuals and all classes of people to fully understand the management and education to help those who have completed their prison sentences return to their localities...
Many community reintegration models have also been implemented, such as: "Skillful mass mobilization in community reintegration" in Thai Hoa town; "Joining hands to reform, provide career guidance, and reintegrate into the community for people who have completed their prison sentences" in My Son commune, Do Luong district; "Joining hands to help people who have made mistakes" in Nghi Thu ward (Cua Lo town); "Friendly arms club" of the Women's Union of Vinh Tan ward (Vinh city); "Promoting the combined strength of the political system, mobilizing all classes of people and businesses to participate in management, education, and helping people reintegrate into the community" in Xuan Hoa commune (Nam Dan), Hung Xa commune (Hung Nguyen), Nam Son commune (Do Luong)...
It is the care and support through the above models and activities that have helped those who have completed their prison sentences and those who have been pardoned have a place to rely on to rebuild their lives. Mr. SVM (born in 1996), residing in Hiep Phong village, Thong Thu commune (Que Phong), 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 days of reintegration, I felt lost. But when I received help and encouragement from my family and the community, I gradually got rid of my inferiority complex and became enthusiastic about business. Currently, in addition to taking care of 10 hectares of acacia, I also focus on raising pigs and frogs to stabilize the economy and increase income.”
Similarly, Mr. D.VQ, residing in Hamlet 4, My Son Commune (Do Luong), said: “After serving a 27-month prison sentence for the crime of “Disturbing public order”, returning to my hometown, in addition to encouragement from my family, I also received timely support from the local government, organizations and unions, which motivated me to develop the economy”. It is known that currently, in addition to the income from his family's 45 hectares of acacia, Mr. Q. also invests in livestock farming, fruit tree planting and bidding for a dam near his house to provide fishing services.
DIFFICULTIES
Despite receiving a lot of support and facilitation, according to actual research, currently those who have completed their prison sentences and those who have been pardoned and returned to their locality to reintegrate into the community still face many difficulties. Because the coordination and joining hands is not really effective, they still rely on the police force. The funding for community reintegration is still low, not meeting the needs, so most of it stops at propaganda and mobilization work...
However, the most difficult issue is still employment. According to localities, some businesses require background checks when recruiting, so it is very difficult for people who have not cleared their criminal records to be hired. Therefore, many people after being released from prison cannot find a job and are taken advantage of by bad guys, leading to recidivism. Some people after being released from prison do not return to the registered address, do not report to the local authorities where they live; many cases go to work far away without reporting temporary absence, causing many difficulties for management and assessment to implement the clearance of criminal records...
The number of people reintegrating into the community currently under management in the district is 168. Identifying the wishes of the reintegrated subjects to be facilitated to borrow capital with preferential interest rates for economic development, the locality has worked with the Social Policy Bank in supporting the reintegrated subjects in the community on the issue of borrowing capital. At the same time, proactively discussing with local businesses about the need to recruit labor to orient vocational training and create suitable jobs. However, in reality, the number of cases accessing loans and being recruited into businesses is still low.
MR. LO MINH DIEP - HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WAR INVALIDS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS, QUE PHONG DISTRICT
According to Major Hoang Van Hiep - Head of Dien Hai Commune Police, Dien Chau District, from 2012 to October 2022 alone, the commune has 50 cases of people who have completed their prison sentences, which is quite a lot compared to other communes in the district. Currently, most of these cases still do not have stable jobs, a few cases continue to re-offend after completing their prison sentences... This is the basis for the commune to build a model of "Reintegrating into the community to develop the economy well". However, regarding the issue of supporting loan capital, in reality, in addition to meeting the conditions such as complying with the provisions of the law; not participating in social evils and being confirmed by the police, the People's Committee of the commune, making a list to send to the Social Policy Bank, the current loan level is still low compared to the demand, especially serving the production and business of local subjects such as restaurants, carpentry workshops...
According to Mr. HNA, residing in Hamlet 4, Dien Hai Commune, the current loan level is regulated by Decision No. 22/2023/QD-TTg dated August 17, 2023 of the Prime Minister on credit for people who have completed their prison sentences, the loan level for individuals for vocational training and apprenticeship is up to 4 million VND/month/person; loans for production, business, and job creation are up to 100 million VND/person. For the purpose of production and business, specifically restaurant business like Mr. A, this is a low loan level, not meeting the loan demand, so he has to go through other forms of loans.
Regarding this issue, in a discussion with us, the leader of the Criminal Enforcement and Judicial Support Police Department of Nghe An Province Police said that in order for those who have completed their prison sentences and those who have been pardoned to stabilize their lives, in addition to creating favorable conditions for employment, there needs to be timely support in terms of capital so that they can be self-reliant in production and business. Only then will the work of reintegrating into the community be truly effective, in order to limit and prevent recidivism.
