Give jobs to ex-prisoners to reduce recidivism – DG

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Prison Department wants more job opportunities to be made available to former prisoners to help them build a new life and to help lower recidivism rate.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar said the cooperation of private companies, statutory bodies or individuals could have a positive impact on the prisoners’ rehabilitation.

“The target now is to reduce recidivism (relapse into criminal behaviour) rate to the lowest level and it is important to have the support of all parties in ensuring that the prisoners are on the right path.

“Everyone should give the prisoners or ex-prisoners a second chance and not be prejudiced against them,” he told Bernama in conjunction with the 229nd Prison Day celebration which held on Wednesday (March 20) with the theme ‘Reformasi Penjara Masyarakat Sejahtera’.

Elaborating he said the rehabilitation programmes outside the prison walls such as the Corporate Smart Internship (CSI) programme implemented for people under parole (ODP) have shown positive developments.

“Such programmes will continue to be improved to ensure that the residents will become useful citizens and will not repeat their offences after being released,” he said.

Based on records on the Prison Department’s website, 47 private companies in 12 states are participating in the CSI programme with the involvement of 1,777 ODP, since its implementation in 2016.

Meanwhile, Zulkifli reminded the prison officers to inculcate a high performance work culture.

“We need to prepare ourselves for the challenges of the Prison Department reforms which will involve improvements in various aspects such as detention and compliance with service and rehabilitation standards,” he said. - Bernama