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Helping Ex-Offenders Re-Enter Society in Malawi


Last modified 2007-01-10 16:20

In January 2005, PF Malawi opened a halfway house to assist ex-prisoners in the transition from prison to community life.

In helping ex-offenders reconcile with their families and communities, the halfway house offers several different services:

  • Psychosocial counselling – offering guidance in social and spiritual issues
  • HIV/AIDS project – awareness raising among the participants in the halfway house programme
  • Vocational skills training – carpentry, agriculture and tailoring with plans to include brick laying
  • Human Rights Approach – awareness raising about individual rights, especially in the area of criminal justice
  • Reintegration in the community – mediating conflicts between ex-prisoners and members of their family or community
 

In its first year of operation, the halfway house has taken in four courses of individuals leaving prison with a total of 33 people. Of those, only 6 programme participants returned to prison in the first year after release.


June 2006

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Restorative justice is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused or revealed by criminal behaviour. It is best accomplished through cooperative processes that include all stakeholders.

Practices and programs reflecting restorative purposes will respond to crime by: (a) identifying and taking steps to repair harm, (b) involving all  stakeholders, and (c) transforming the traditional relationship between communities and their governments in responding to crime. more