I continue to be amazed at the wide range of backgrounds of the women and men in our prisons.
Thinking a one-size programme or plan fits all has never worked. You must know who you're dealing with before you can identify what support is needed. Doing such a stock take is often the first time the men have ever really thought about these various areas of their lives. They then tend to identify for themselves the areas that need addressing first.
And when you're talking about significant behaviour change, you have to realise this won't happen overnight. These changes can sometimes take years before they become normal and bedded in.
If Corrections reduced the amount by $1000 for each parolee and put that towards funding a supported living house, that would be a very good start. When released, the men have a place to go to straightaway. They don't start roaming off on their own.
The home should be able to accommodate five to six men.
I know at present they are often put up at motels for different periods when no other suitable accommodation can be found. In my view, motel accommodation is not suitable either.
In a supported living house, sure they'll be supervised, they can start to learn and demonstrate the behaviour changes required to get back to normal life. And they shouldn't have to trudge all over town to attend meetings at agencies with people who really have no interest in assisting their reintegration into society.
These meetings and all self-improvement sessions can take place at the house. Finding work will be another biggie. Not everyone wants to hire an ex-prisoner. And when you do find an employer willing to do so, often the other staff get snooty and complain. I have seen this happen on a number of occasions.
Gang members, in particular, tell me their best chance of finding work is at places where other members work.
And re-establishing and reigniting relationships will not be easy either. Some partners may have moved on and think picking up where things left off isn't worth the effort.
We are deluding ourselves if we think all men, when released from prison, are automatically welcomed back into their families with open arms. All these are real hard-core life issues that have to be addressed.
Like the Minister of Corrections, I believe the first six months after a prisoner has been released is the most challenging. We have to get it right. The people supporting the men during this period should be hired for this role only. They should be able to demonstrate knowledge of human behaviour and have empathy and understanding for the person trying to make major behavioural change.
They must be skilled communicators, know their way around government systems and be non-judgmental.
Preferably not from a mental health or social work background. Reintegration into society is not easy work. But it is do-able and the men are worth the effort.
Merepeka lives in Rotorua. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart the spread of political correctness.
