PF Fiji Launches Re-Entry Project
Recently, PF Fiji launched Operation Second Chance to assist prisoners in their transition from prison to the community. Funded in part by the Australian Agency for International Development, the re-entry programme will help prisoners address issues of addiction, personal health, relationships, and life-skills. Twenty high-risk offenders have been chosen for the pilot based on their willingness to participate and recommendations from prison staff.
Programme modules include the following:
- Celebrate Recovery
- Drug and Alcohol Awareness
- HIV &AIDS Awareness
- Re-entry planning
- Counseling
Participants are also assigned mentors to assist them with various
issues such as spiritual formation, planning, connecting with a church,
etc.
A part of re-entry is acknowledging and addressing the harm caused by
criminal behaviour. For this reason, Operation Second Chance includes a
reconciliation module. In appropriate cases, national ministry
volunteers will work with the prisoner, members of his/her family,
community representatives, community leaders, and others to arrange a
restorative encounter. In this process, they will discuss the harm and
the person’s return to the community. This reconciliation process will
be based on principles of Fijian and Indian customary practices and
take place prior to release.
October 2008
