During this project our focus was on the inclusion and exclusion of people on the basis of a criminal record.

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INTRODUCTION

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

During this project our focus was on the inclusion and exclusion of people on the basis of a criminal record.  We dealt with a minority of prisoners; specifically on the experience of a male ex-prisoner.  Following an interview to be held with one such individual, we aspired to:

  1. Acquire information about the experience of life in prison and what it means to spend time there.
  2. Get a clearer picture of what goes on within a correctional facility.
  3. Gather information on the way one feels regarding inclusion and exclusion during the time spent in prison.
  4. Become familiar with how an ex-prisoner feels on returning to the community.
  5. Explore the views of an ex-prisoner with regards to how he feels society can integrate these individuals better; not making them feel unwanted.

QUALITY OF LIFE

Correctional facilities are institutions there to exclude individuals; as a form of punishment for acting in opposition to the laws, rules and regulations of a particular society.  As a result, inclusion doesn’t form part of such a facility.  Consequently, the prisoners’ quality of life suffers, together with their psychological health and personal identity.

In terms of relationships; while completing the prison term, the prisoner may feel that he/she is lacking the past connection with family and friends, as visiting hours are restricted.  Upon their discharge, some might be rejected by their loved ones.  There families may grow used to living with out them, and if the sentence is too long, they may even move on with their lives.  On the other hand there are those who may find it difficult initially, but eventually re-integrate and feel content with the way others approach them.

Everyone should be permitted some degree of choice in life.  While in prison this is limited, although they have the choice to engage in activities of their interest.   Upon their release, society does not help much to include these individuals.  They lack the choices in life that one is usually entitled to, especially when it comes to the world of work, where they will find many doors closed.  As all other individuals, they should be given the opportunity to enjoy all of the important possibilities of life; as they too are entitled to a good Quality of Life.

As a result of the above mentioned factors, an ex-prisoner may lead an uncomfortable lifestyle; exclusion being the greatest price they have to pay.  A lot may be done to ensure that upon their release they may continue living an adequate life; whereby they will be able to enjoy and make the most of what life offers; thus participating in it actively and being given the chance to be successful.  

Unfortunately, the mental representations of people within society are a very strong barrier which is very difficult to break down. Without removing this barrier, inclusion for ex-prisoners is very hard. Until people start seeing them as fellow members of the community, they will not be treated as such, thus remaining socially excluded.


LITERATURE REVIEW

HOW PRISONERS WERE TREATED

 

During the mid 16th century, “rowdy” offenders were sent to the old prison in the Citadel, on the island of Gozo. This occurred during the time of the knights of St. John. It excluded the prisoners from the island of Malta; were the majority of the population resided.

In the 1830’s people who performed petty crimes were punished by being put in pillory or stocks, where passers by could mock and throw things at them, which was very humiliating.

Before 1860, prisoners would parade through Valletta all the way to the granaries in Floriana (Il- Fosos), so that everyone would see who the criminals were. They were executed in public. Following this period, the execution started happening in front of the prison of Cordin.    

At the time of the plague, prisoners would work at night, doing the dirty work outside in the community. It was done at night so that no one would see them. They were chained, wore uniforms of classification and were numbered for identification. They also wore badges, which removed their personal identity.  As a result they were already being excluded from society.

PRISONERS TODAY

The last day in the cell arrives, and a man/woman who once committed a crime and was sentenced to some time in prison is now released and faces a new and different beginning. The world is different in the eyes of those that leave the correctional facilities.  They are released from black to white, without passing through the grey area first. A sudden change! It can come as a shock, and with merely any help at hand. Is this what an ex-prisoner faces at the time of release?

Maybe so, but since the formation of Mid-Dlam Ghad-Dawl (M.D.D.) in 1995, some services are offered to the ex-prisoner. Amongst some of the ways of supporting an ex-prisoner, economic support is given by this organisation with regards to housing and finding a job. These shall be dealt with in further depth below.

“L-ewwel kenn” - First Shelter

This is one of the services provided by M.D.D in collaboration with the Housing Department and Authority. What they offer is a temporary residence/shelter for those leaving the grounds, finding themselves with nowhere to stay. The residence is offered for a period of 6 months.  An ex-prisoner must satisfy a number of criteria to be accepted, as well as, adhere to certain conditions that pertain to the ‘contract’. One such condition is payment for the consumption of electricity and water.

“L-ewwel Impjieg” - First Employment

This is very important as ex-prisoners who find it very hard to be accepted for work, especially if the employer knows about the employees past. M.D.D work hand in hand with a number of programs to help within this area; including,the “General Workers’ Union” (GWU), the “Unioni Haddiema Maqghudin” (UHM), the “Employment and Training Centre” (ETC), and the “Malta Employers Association” (MEA).

M.D.D believes that being given guidance, support and courage can help ex-prisoners:

  • Guidance is needed because of how the world and place of work has changed as a result of modernization and globalization.
  •  Support refers to the lack of it that an ex-prisoner experiences.  For them small problems are rather difficult to handle, since they did not have to encounter such problems while in prison,. Together with this is the vulnerability encountered in the workplace.
  •  Courage:  They require this to face the complications they encounter in their new life.  

        

“Our work together can effectively distance these people from the risk of exclusion.”

        Dr Mark F. Montebello

“THE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING CORPORATON” (ETC) AND PRISONERS

Finding a job is one of the most significant variables in the rate of re-offending. It is very important, yet very hard for an ex- prisoner to find a job once they are released from prison.

‘Bridging the gap’ is a scheme offered by the ETC which can be used by:

  • Registered disabled persons registering as unemployed.
  • Former substance abusers.
  • Former offenders.
  • Correctional facility prisoners on leave.
  • Other vulnerable groups.

To make the scheme attractive, employers are given various benefits, including interviewing, selection and evaluation of the trainees’ progress. The employer is free from obligations such as National Insurance contributions, and also has support from ETC officials throughout the work phase.

Prisoners can apply to enroll in this scheme during the last three months of their sentence since during this time they are able to get leave for work. An information desk in the prison is present, where one can become more knowledgeable about the scheme and register to take part in it.

The executive in charge of ‘bridging the gap’ then interviews the persons who applied and contacts interested employers. Having only one person taking care of the whole scheme makes it hard to give enough attention to all the groups who should benefit from it.

When a prisoner finds a job during the last three months of the sentence, he/she is able to get leave to go to work; returning to prison when the shift is over.  Individuals having no prior qualifications get on the job training.

 

Ex-prisoners may also apply to take part in this scheme once they are out of prison. Many of these do not know about the scheme, being directed to it after registering in the mainstream. Others do not want to show that they are ex-prisoners, insisting on registering in main stream.

When an ex-prisoner registers for this scheme, the ETC will have a profile of the person; and thus will receive any information regarding courses being held, as well as job vacancies fitting their profile.

Most of the jobs offered to these individuals are in the construction and trade industries, due to the low educational qualifications they might have. As a result of this, and on request of most of the prisoners, the ETC is funding work shops and sending trainers to give courses in for example English language, literacy, and electrical installation.

 Last year, nine persons found a job using this scheme, and there are currently thirteen placements.


METHODOLOGY

As previously discussed, the aim of this research was to obtain insight of prisoners from the perspective of an ex-Maltese prisoner. The methodology involved the use of a semi-structured interview to collect data from our informant.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Our research consisted of a case study which:

  1. Allowed the informant to provide personal and unique information about his understanding of the matter; as reflected through actual experiences, feelings, thoughts and emotions that were verbally expressed.
  2. Facilitated our role in allowing a more detailed and in-depth investigation to be made of the meaning, interpretations and resulting consequences provided by the informant.

Ethical issues of anonymity and confidentiality were also discussed.

DATA COLLECTION METHOD

A semi-structured interview was used for the purpose of this study; consisting of a set of open-ended questions that allowed the informant to talk freely on the matter. Questions were intended to give the participant the freedom and opportunity to answer in depth. They were not exhaustive and neither mutually excessive. Such flexibility offered us the possibility to explore areas and issues that were relevant for the scope of this study. The interview was conducted on a one-to-one, face-to-face basis, together with an observer. This facilitated the communication and elaboration of issues that were deemed important by the informant.

 

Non-directive and open-ended questions were included in the interview guide. A series of questions that included opening, transition, key, and ending questions were carefully prepared beforehand.


THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF RESULTS 

The findings derived from the interview with a Maltese informant shall now be presented. The “meaningful unit” was derived from a real life experience evident from the transcribed data, which was incorporated into it phenomenal themes. The themes presented in this section, ultimately lead us to a better understanding of life in prison.

An important aspect of this approach demanded the bracketing of all preconceived judgments. This was necessary to be able to enter and experience the phenomenal world as perceived by the informant.

THE INFORMANT

The informant who shared his experience with us is Henry; an individual in his early 30’s, who is separated and currently employed with an insurance company.

A fictitious name has been assigned to the participant to safeguard his anonymity.

THE THEMES

It is important that the reader establishes a holistic view of the over all underlying themes, considering each theme as forming part of the whole experience and not simply as isolated instances of the experience. In this manner the reader will be able to gain a better understanding of the exclusion experienced by an ex- prisoner.

An in depth analysis of the transcribed data, yielded the following themes:

  1. Quality of life:

The participant expressed that the period he spent in prison created certain restrictions to his quality of life. It affected:

  • His personality: It helped him gain a positive insight to certain aspects of his life, together with taking life more seriously,
  • His social status in society:  He feels this has greatly changed, in that for example he, like other prisoners, cannot benefit from certain services offered any longer, such as not being able to apply for bank loans.
  • Work:  This presents another obstacle, one which Henry has had to overcome. Despite the help he received from his brother in finding a job he still fears his colleagues’ reactions towards him if they were to find out about his past experience.

Overall, Henry’s parents and siblings have proved to be a huge support in encouraging him to enhance his quality of life.

  1. Irrational beliefs of the public and the influence of the media
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The closed mind of the Maltese citizens has proved to be a hindrance. Henry states that society needs to be educated in order to understand the situation better. The media has an important role in influencing society. The way it presents the case in question, and at the stage at which it is announced has a great impact.

  1. Social coping strategies

A positive outlook to life after prison has helped Henry cope with certain difficult situations which center around exclusion; “possibbli dejjem, imma difficli” (‘it’s always possible, but hard’). Therefore, Henry’s main aim encompasses: ”tiggieled ...

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