DOORS TO EDUCATION CHANGING LIVES FOR PRISONERS
GULF NEWS GETS EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO SEE FIRST-HAND THE EFFECT COURSES HAVE ON INMATES
Special educational courses at a prison in Ras Al Khaimah are helping in giving a direction to inmates as they prepare to reintegrate with society upon release. Gulf News gets exclusive access to see the effect courses have on the prisoners |
Globally, prison is often described as a university for criminals, where inmates pick up habits that will only help them reoffend when they get back on the outside. However, when Gulf News was given exclusive access to Ras Al Khaimah’s Correctional Facility recently, we discovered that this wasn’t the case, and the only lessons being taught were that of positive reformation.
Since opening a library at the correctional facility in 2011, the Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research went on to launch courses in 2013 run by qualified instructors that have benefitted over 4,700 male and female inmates to date.
Run over two terms a year and offering up to four or five courses per term, including the likes of computer skills and small business management, inmates are now better equipped to make a real go of life when they get released.
“We support them as per their needs and distribute surveys to find out what [skills] they want to improve ahead of reintegration into society,” said Hanadi Mohammad, Innovation Manager at the Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.
“Our main focus is to reintegrate them back into the community and improve the community by providing them with skills that they can contribute with,” she added. “The foundation’s target is to build human capacity. Inmates look forward to a new life after prison but they lack the skills. We provide them with that, give them the chance, and they learn something that helps with their future.”
Visible improvement
The results have been clear to see, according to prison staff.
“Behaviour has improved and there are less problems among inmates because they have something to busy themselves with,” said Lieutenant Colonel Adnan Mohammad Al Hamadi, who oversees the rehabilitation programme at the prison, which holds up to 550-600 inmates, including both men and women across separate wings.
“Statistics show that the more education a prisoner gets, the less likely they will be to come back here,” he added.
Lieutenant Amal Al Obad, who is the head of training for both men’s and women’s sections agreed.
“It’s our job to make sure inmates haven’t lost track of what was going on in the outside world while they were in prison,” she said. “They shouldn’t find it difficult to live outside and we should be helping them to do something with their lives so they find it easier on the outside when they leave.
“The goal of these courses is to help them find a new life and opportunity for the future after they have been released but they are more than just courses, they have effected and impacted upon everything in this prison.”
As well as the courses being open to all inmates, prison staff can also take part, and the latest additions in courses for first-aid and mental health first-aid have proved popular with up to 10 to 15 students in a class at any time and six to seven classes per term.
“Prisoners and staff look forward to these courses and always ask for them to be increased, added Al Hamadi. “The fact that it’s open to the staff as well as the inmates makes it
beneficial to everyone.”
First Warrant Officer Saeed Al Mahbobi said: “The programmes are very important because if an inmate stays here without education, their behaviour
will never change. It is impossible to offer a programme like this and not see a positive effect even if it’s five, 10 or 15 per cent, and adding only five per cent each time. If a prisoner only acquires half of what they are taught, it’s a great thing.
“We also have examples of former inmates who have continued their studies on the outside, who are now doing well, and we now have less people coming back here because of the courses’ clear, positive effect on behaviour,” he added. “Because they busy themselves with studies, they forget about their problems and their behaviour improves.”
It’s a win-win situation
Recalling a case of a doctor who was in prison for three years for financial offences, Al Obad said: “He took every course going and even became an instructor because he didn’t want a gap in his education when he left.
“Fortunately, he had all the skills he needed to continue and is doing well [after leaving prison].
“We all know these courses would cost a lot of money outside so the fact that this is free thanks to the foundation, and that everyone benefits [from it], makes us feel very fortunate.”
The programmes are very important because if an inmate stays here without education, their behaviour will never change.”
Saeed Al Mahbobi | First Warrant Officer
Behaviour has improved and there are less problems among inmates because they have something to busy themselves with.”
Lt Col Adnan Mohammad Al Hamadi | Oversees rehabilitation
We support them as per their needs and distribute surveys to find out what [skills] they want to improve ahead of reintegration with society.”
Hanadi Mohammad | Innovation Manager
It’s our job to make sure inmates haven’t lost track of what was going on in the outside world... They shouldn’t find it difficult to live outside.”
Lt Amal Al Obad | Head of Training