Project duration: 2005–2008
Project funder: EQUAL Community Initiative
Project coordinator: Vilnius pedagogical university
Project partners:
KRIS Vilnius
Lukiškės Inquisition Ward-Prison
Modern Didactic Centre
Vilnius Labour Exchange
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PROJECT RELEVANCE
One of the most prominent manifestations of the social discrimination problem existing in Lithuania is the problem of social integration of convicts and persons having returned from penitentiary institutions. The majority (over 50%) persons having returned from prisons relapse due to various reasons. One of the basic reasons for relapsing is loss of qualification, working and social skills during imprisonment. Most of the persons who commit crime have no permanent residence places; they lack knowledge about their rights and possibilities, i.e. where they could turn for help and what kinds of help are available for them. Quite a number of former convicts having finished their sentence and returned from penitentiary institutions do not put efforts themselves to find jobs due to the aforementioned reasons or have just lost skills of social communication that are common for citizens living in freedom. Therefore, they are unable to relevantly communicate with employers on their own, in a form that could be acceptable for employers. With uneven criteria applied and due to prejudices of employers and other existing employees, skills and abilities of target group members are presented for evaluation and for assessing their compatibility to formal and informal requirements. These and other factors, which are most often subjective, cause serious economic and social problems for persons who belong to such target groups. In order to solve the said problems, it is purposeful to start directed and qualified development of social skills not when a person is leaving or is already released from a penitentiary institution, but earlier, i.e. a year before the end of the sentence. To achieve this goal, a qualified system should be developed allowing to raise convict motivation to have full-fledged lives in freedom and to teach the convicts, future valued members of the society, to adapt in the competitive labour market as well as to assure accessibility of useful information.
PROJECT AIM
To develop an innovatory integration/reintegration system model for convicts and former convicts by adapting good practice of other countries; the model developed is supposed to provide preparedness for such persons to be involved in the labour market and to strive that the discriminated groups of individuals become equally competent labour force as well as to assure accessibility of useful information.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
- Developing a teaching model for convicted persons to be applied during sentence period and afterwards. This model would embrace education of the said groups and development of social skills including parenthood and working skills as well as dissemination of information about labour market and related possibilities.
- Provision of specialist training at various institutions, who could work with target group individuals.
- Testing the developed model in order to apply it practice.
PROJECT TARGET GROUPS
Persons imprisoned in Lithuanian institutions and having up to one year left to finish their sentence period. This group embraces a wider circle of smaller target groups, including individuals of different genders, age groups as well as drug addicts and persons belonging to national or sexual minorities.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
In order to identify the problems faced by this specific social risk group, a needs analysis was conducted.
A model for the social reintegration and adaptation of prisoners and individuals released from correctional facilities was developed, along with a training program and methodological materials for specialists working with the target group.
Using the newly created training program and methodological materials, 25 specialists from various institutions were trained.
The developed model was piloted at the Lukiškės Inquisition Ward-Prison. Various training sessions, vocational guidance, and counseling were organized for individuals in the target group to improve their employment opportunities.
An information publication for the target group was published, containing maximum information on their rights and opportunities – where they can apply and what kind of assistance they can receive.
PROJECT INTELLECTUAL OUTPUTS
Study “Resocialization Expectations of Convicted Individuals” (2006)
The study involved 113 convicted individuals serving a custodial sentence at the Lukiškės Inquisition Ward-Prison, who had less than one year remaining before their release. The aim of the study was to analyze the resocialization problems, future expectations, and educational needs of convicted individuals.
The study revealed that the majority of convicts plan their future while still in the correctional facility. The results show that individuals with less than a secondary education commit the highest number of crimes, while the youngest group of convicts displays the highest vocational motivation. It was found that as many as 60% of respondents plan to earn a living only through legal means after their release, and a similar proportion dreams of working abroad. The study also highlighted the importance of family support for successful integration and the tendency of convicts to seek help from psychologists more often than from social workers. The study indicates that it is necessary to improve the resocialization model in Lithuania in order to turn convicted individuals into equal and competitive participants in the labor market.
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Guide to Life in Freedom: Information publication for individuals preparing to leave correctional facilities (2007)
This is an information publication designed to help convicted individuals successfully integrate into society after their release. It provides practical information on employment, social guarantees, and legal aid to reduce social exclusion.
The publication provides practical information that is essential during the first days and months after release:
- Legal aid and documents: Information on obtaining personal documents (passport, identity card) and legal aid.
- Job search: Advice on integrating into the job market, writing a CV, and communicating with employers while having a criminal record.
- Social support: Where to apply for housing, benefits, or other social assistance in municipalities.
- Resocialization: Information on psychological support and non-governmental organizations that help former inmates.
Methodological Training Materials for Specialists Working with Convicted Individuals and Those Released from Correctional Facilities: Training modules for specialists working with convicted individuals and those released from correctional facilities (2007)
These methodological materials are intended for specialists (social workers, prison system officers, psychologists, and NGO representatives) seeking to improve their work with a specific target group – convicted individuals and persons released from correctional facilities.
The methodological publication consists of specialized training modules that consistently present:
- Legal and social context: analyzes the integration barriers and legal environment faced by convicted individuals.
- Working methodology: introduces specific counseling principles, motivational techniques, and assistance planning strategies.
- Integration into the labor market: presents methods on how to help former inmates overcome employers’ prejudices and successfully enter the employment system.
- Inter-institutional cooperation: emphasizes the importance of building coalitions between state institutions and non-governmental organizations.
The publication aims to standardize the competencies of specialists, provide them with practical tools for work, and promote a comprehensive approach to the resocialization of convicted individuals, focused on long-term reintegration into society.
PROJECT RESULTS
- The project contributed to the positive reintegration of the target group individuals into the country’s competitive labor market.
- One of the intended outcomes is a positive attitude of employers and society toward this socially vulnerable group of former inmates.