OBJECTIVE
The objective of this chapter is to emphasize the requirement for prisoners to be in-volved in a range of work activities which are useful and which will equip them with skills which they can use after their release.
ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES
All sentenced prisoners who are medically fit shall be required to work. As far as possible, this work should give them skills so that they can earn an honest living af-ter their release.
National legislation regarding health and safety at work shall apply in prisons in the same way as it does in the community.
Vocational training shall be provided, especially for young prisoners.
Prisoners should be remunerated for the work they do.
Prisoners should be allowed to spend at least part of their earnings, to send a part to their families and to save a part.
These principles should be presented visually and remain on display throughout the session.
BASIS IN INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS Exercise:
Using the Compilation of Instruments, the trainees should work in pairs in order to dis-cover the basis for each of these principles.
There are a considerable number of references to be discovered, so the exercise is likely to take a while.
When the trainees are asked to report back to the group, it is the trainer’s task to en-sure that all the references listed are included.
IMPLICATIONS
The important point is that work serves the same purposes in prisons as it does in the community; its absence has the same effects.
PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
The points made in the Manual are intended to cover the different circumstances across jurisdictions.
It is important, after introducing each point, to encourage both questions and com-ments drawn from trainees’ own experience.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
A list of topics is provided in the Manual.
Methodology:
The trainees should be divided into small groups for discussion.
Facilitators from the training team should move around the groups, prompting discus-sion where necessary.
If time allows, a reporting back session should be arranged.
Points to be highlighted/suggested areas for discussion:
39. – Consider the relationship between unemployment and imprisonment;
39. – Prisoners are largely outside any society. Learning skills that are in demand in society is a way of regaining one’s entry;
39. – The right to work is emphasized as a way of gaining self-respect, especially if the proceeds of that work may be used to the advantage of the prisoner and/or his family;
39. – Possible exploitation is the issue as regards the private company;
39. – The company should not be allowed to pay very low wages to prisoners in order to increase its profits;
39. – The company should not be allowed to operate with lower health and safety standards and poorer general working conditions because its workforce is comprised of prisoners;
39. – It would be difficult to make a case for giving prisoners an advantage over law-abiding people;
39. – The case must be made for giving prisoners forms of employment that are not popular in the local community, lower paid or short-term or erratic in nature;
39. – In some communities, prisoners may be able to do voluntary work, receiving payment only from the prison authorities;
39. – The instruments stress the importance of prisoners being active in constructive and useful activity during the working week;
39. – Prisoners should be treated in all respects in the same way as employed people in the community, having access to their earned income in similar, though controlled, ways.
CASE STUDIES Methodology:
These may be conducted in groups or as a round-table discussion, with volunteers from among the trainees taking part in each discussion.
If the second option is chosen, the main group of trainees should be allowed to make their observations and comments at the end of the period allowed for discussion.
Points to be highlighted/suggested areas for discussion:
CASE STUDY 1
39. – The scope for providing meaningful activity safely within the perimeter of the prison is very large;
39. – The availability of staff expertise to oversee the various projects may be a difficulty;
39. – Staffing levels to provide adequate security may also be an issue;
39. – Imaginative responses to any apparent difficulties should always be sought;
39. – The opportunity exists to work closely with the community and any non-governmental organizations that might be able to offer expertise.
CASE STUDY 2
39. – Why has the prison been targeted with what might be an excellent opportunity to provide work for prisoners or an excellent way for a local businessman to make an easy profit?;
39. – What is the employment situation in the community?;
39. – What payment, by way of wages for the prisoners, is being considered?;
39. – How will the working environment in the prison compare with that in a similar workshop in the community producing the same goods?;
39. – Will it be possible to comply with all health and safety regulations?;
39. – Does a 40-hour week compare with the working week in the community?;
39. – Can the prison director guarantee that all prisoners will work on the project? It might be quite inappropriate for some prisoners to do that particular kind of work.