NCJ Number
54764
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: (1976) Pages: 73-76
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
INTRODUCED IN 1970 TO HELP EX-PRISONERS RESETTLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND AVOID CRIME, THE POLISH EXECUTIVE CRIMINAL CODE PROVISION RELATING TO EX-OFFENDER EMPLOYMENT AND ADVANCE PAY IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
ACCORDING TO PARAGRAPH SEVEN OF THE CODE, COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE OBLIGED TO HELP RELEASED PRISONERS BY GIVING THEM WORK IN AN APPROPRIATE POSITION WHEN AVAILABLE, PREPARING AND TRAINING THEM FOR PROFESSIONS, FINDING THEM A PLACE IN A WORKERS' HOSTEL, AND PAYING THEM 1 MONTH'S WAGES IN ADVANCE AS SOON AS THEY START WORK. UNDER THE CODE, INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE REGISTERED AMNESTIED PERSONS WORK AND PAY THEM THE ADVANCE WAGES IN ORDER TO GIVE THE WORKER SUFFICIENT SECURITY UNTIL THEIR FIRST MONTHLY PAY PACKET. IF AN AMNESTIED PERSON APPLIES FOR IT, IT IS OBLIGATORY TO PAY THE ADVANCE WAGE, BUT THE BURDEN IS ON THE INDIVIDUAL. AN ANALYSIS OF THE CASES OF 326 AMNESTIED PERSONS HANDLED BY THE LODZ EMPLOYMENT OFFICE INDICATES THAT WORK WAS OFFERED ACCORDING TO THE EX-PRISONERS' QUALIFICATIONS AND WITH PAY AT THE USUAL RATE. OF THE 187 WHO STARTED WORK, ALL HAD PRIMARY EDUCATION AND SOME HAD STARTED SECONDARY SCHOOL, ALTHOUGH ONLY 4 EVER FINISHED. MOST LACKED SATISFACTORY PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND BECAME UNSKILLED WORKERS. ALL TOOK WORK IN LARGE INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES AND 141 APPLIED FOR ADVANCE PAY. GENERALLY, THE YOUNGER WORKERS WERE MORE RELUCTANT TO ASK FOR ADVANCE PAY, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE MOST HAD SOME SUPPORT FROM PARENTS. OF THOSE WHO TOOK ADVANCE PAY, ONLY 30 PERCENT REMAINED IN THE SAME EMPLOYMENT FOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS. NEVERTHELESS, THE ADVANCE PAY SEEMS TO HAVE INFLUENCED THEIR STABILIZATION AT WORK, OR AT LEAST DELAYED THEIR LEAVING WORK. REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)