Efforts to reduce FCS: Give them another recidivism rate chance
THE Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) will work closely with the Nadroga Provincial Council so that its rehabilitation efforts reach the doorsteps of every exoffender in the province.
FCS and the council signed a partnership agreement yesterday in an attempt to reduce the recidivism rate in the province.
“It is a momentous occasion for the Fiji Corrections Service and also for the yasana vaka turaga
Nadroga/Navosa,” Fiji Corrections Service Commander
oFrancis Kean said.
“We are very thankful to the yasana vaka turaga
Nadroga/Navosa, the Turaga na Ka Levu, all the chiefs in the province, and all church elders, talatala and the people of Nakuruvalu that are present here today (yesterday) to acknowledge this significant partnership between the Fiji Corrections Service and the yasana Nadroga/ Navosa.”
Commander Kean said their rehabilitation efforts in the Fiji Corrections Service was not confined to the four walls of any correctional centre.
o“We’ve taken out our rehabilitation efforts to the doorsteps of every prisoner, that’s why one of our strategies is called the ‘Through Gap’ because we believe by extending out these rehabilitation efforts out to the doorsteps of every offender, we get to help in reducing the recidivism rate; the opportunities of reoffending, to ensure that we continue to show that we care and continue to partner with those that have come under our care on a new journey in life in trying to help them become law abiding citizens of this country.”
He said the feedback had been positive from other provinces as well.
“One of the reasons we’ve gone about doing this is because a good number of those under our care come from the rural areas.
“The level of acceptance is there from the vanua, which is very important.
“So when they accept these people back into the communities, it’s a significant stride in the rehabilitation efforts that we do in the corrections.”
Nadroga Provincial Council chairman Timoci Nawaibalavu said they were happy to partner with the Fiji Corrections Service.
“To continue with what the Corrections Service had done, we need to go down to the community and preach and tell them.
“That’s why we come together today (yesterday) with the talatala, Roko Tui and all the committee members; even a team from the vanua.
“We have to receive them in a way that we have to so that they can come back to the community and contribute.
“We have to accept them with our good hearts so that they come to the light.”
THE Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) is encouraging the communities to accept ex-offenders and give them another chance to start a sustainable life.
FCS Commissioner Commander Francis Kean said they created a care network to assist ex-offenders start up a sustainable life.
“Because stigma is the real thing; it sticks with you,” he said.
“That’s why we have the Yellow Ribbon Program.
“We are going about encouraging the communities in offering the second opportunity and another shot at life to those that had been incarcerated.”
Commissioner Kean said their rehabilitation unit monitors the rehabilitation process with the help of all the stakeholders.
“As you know, we have four divisions in the Fiji Corrections Service.
“Not only do we do this work alone; that’s part of the care network, the community action for rehabilitation of ex-offenders.
“We engage with the provinces; we engage with religious organisations because we really do not have the manpower to go to every door.
“So by engaging the community, it becomes a whole of nation effort, where everybody contributes to the rehabilitation efforts of those that have been incarcerated.”
FCS and the Nadroga Provincial Council signed a partnership agreement on Tuesday in an attempt to reduce the recidivism rate in the province.