Hoi Kees,
Prikker is een goeie overgang van jouw naar mijn idee (of andersom indien je wilt), ben het met hem eens wat betreft de reclassering (vind ik beter klinken dan rehabilitaite) en de aandacht die dit nodig heeft. Kan niet oordelen over Thiland, maar ik weet wel dat Singapore een zeer goede resocialisatie van gevangenen kent
http://www.straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,4386,277367-1097531940,00.html?
Prisoners' plea
More than 2,300 notes sent to families asking for forgiveness - and yellow ribbons for acceptance
By Tanya Fong
POST offices in Changi handled an unprecedented number of letters with the return address ‘Prison’ last week.
More than 2,300 notes were sent out, each painstakingly handwritten by an inmate to his family, asking for forgiveness for the actions that had put him behind bars, and for the pain, stress and embarrassment he had caused them. Each also contained a 15cm length of yellow ribbon, tied in a loop.
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This week, 150 prisoners are due to be released. And they hope that when they leave jail, their families will be waiting at the gate to welcome them back - wearing that little loop to show they have accepted the offender's heartfelt apology and will put the past behind them.
Said Singapore Prison Service chief Chua Chin Kiat: 'Ex-offenders encounter two prisons. The first is the physical prison, the second is the emotional and mental fear of not being accepted.
'Those who hold the keys to the second prison are the ex-inmate's family, friends, neighbours, future colleagues and employers, who can withhold, or give them, that second shot in life.
'Wearing the yellow ribbon is a symbol of community acceptance.'
The prison will present each inmate who is released with a ‘survival kit’.
This contains a street directory, bus guide, an ez-link card, a toothbrush, instant noodles and bread, a bottle of water, and brochures containing the phone numbers of after-care networks and other self-help groups.
The gestures, being made for the first time, are part of the Yellow Ribbon Project launched early this month to make the community aware of the difficulties former inmates face in re-entering society and to accept them.
The name of the project was inspired by the 1970s pop song Tie A Yellow Ribbon (Round The Old Oak Tree), about a former inmate's mixed feelings on going home to his loved ones.
In the number, apparently based on a real incident, the man asks his wife in a letter, written just before his release, to tie a yellow ribbon round a tree they both know ‘if you still want me’, as ‘A simple yellow ribbon’s what I need to set me free'.
The prison has sold more than 400,000 of the ribbons at $1 each to various companies, statutory boards and religious groups.
The money raised will be used to fund rehabilitation programmes for ex-offenders, as well as help those whose livelihoods have been affected as a result of a family member being jailed.
Said Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises' (Score) chief executive officer, Mr Jason Wong: 'We did a study four years ago and found out that between 6,000 and 8,000 innocent children are affected by their parents being in jail.
'The money will also help them cope.'
The Yellow Ribbon Project involves several agencies in the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders (Care) Network.
They include the Home Affairs Ministry, Score, the Industrial and Services Cooperative Society, the National Council of Social Service, and Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association.
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This is one of the letters written by a 27-year-old inmate from his cell in Tanah Merah Prison. He was arrested for gang-related activities such as stealing and fighting in 2000 under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions Act), and is jailed indefinitely. His wife left him after he was jailed, and his aged parents are looking after his daughter.
Dearest daughter,
BEFORE I begin, let me enlighten you about the purpose of sending you a yellow ribbon. Let me tell you the story behind the yellow ribbon in a fairy tale so that it will be easier for you to understand.
Once a upon a time, there lived a very naughty man who did a lot of bad things. He was unwilling to change and did whatever he felt was right. His behaviour greatly affected people around him but he didn't care.
He was caught by the police. Locked up in a faraway place, he could see his daughter only twice a month. The separation pierced his heart like a sharp sword, killing him softly, but he drew strength from his child's angelic smile.
Slowly, a warm feeling surged from the bottom of his heart, prompting him to make a decision: He resolved to be good. He began to study, behaved himself and most importantly, treasured the presence of his only daughter, his little fairy who was growing up without a father.
Although he had done much on his part, he feared that his daughter might not accept him. So before he was released, he wrote her a letter, telling her that if she was willing to accept him, on his release day she should pin a yellow ribbon on her blouse when he came home.
Upon his release, reaching home, he saw his little fairy beaming at him brightly like the noon day sun with the yellow ribbon on her blouse.
Running towards him with her arms outstretched, she said: ‘I love you daddy.’ Gathering her in his arms, the father replied: ‘I will never leave you again.’ And they lived happily ever after.
Little darling, I made a mistake and I am paying so heavily for it, but what saddens me most is that my mistake is affecting you as well.
I know it is hard for you to grow up without a father figure to guide you and a mother's love to nourish you. I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused you. I will definitely change to be a better man, for my own sake, for your's, and for my parents'.
All I hope, is that you, my little fairy, will wear this ribbon I am sending you, which symbolises acceptance, on your next visit. I will truly be overjoyed if you come wearing it, showing you accept me.
I love you.
Affectionately yours,
Father
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Maar wat je zelf nu zegt is prima: Laten we dan de discussie voeren hoe we de kosten voor het gevangeniswezen verder omlaag kunnen brnegen. Dat is in mijn ogen al een veel meer reele insteek dan discussies over compassie met criminelen.
groet,
Eric
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