Re-socialisation of Offenders Through the Correctional System of Sri Lanka

• NCJ Number: 77987
• Author(s): E P Amerasinghe
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: Sri Lanka

Annotation

Sri Lanka's community and institutional programs designed to educate, train, and socialize offenders for normative living in the community are described.

Abstract

Probation is oriented toward the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of juvenile and adult offenders in the community without institutionalization. Children in need of care are also helped through the probation program. Prison programs are designed to prepare inmates to return to society with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to live and work normatively in the community. Particular attention is given to vocational training, which occupies most of the daily schedule; academic education and socializing activities compose the remainder of the prison schedule. Work camps are used to provide agricultural training and minimum security for short-term first offenders. Open prison camps operate as prerelease training centers, with the admission criterion being that a resident has completed one-fourth of his sentence and has a minimum of 1 year left to serve. Residents are given increased freedom and the opportunity to participate in community programs and activities. Home leave allows prisoners to reside at home for 1 week every 6 months without supervision. Under the work release program, prisoners who have served over 2 years and those with less than 2 years remaining in their sentences are eligible to work in the community during the day and return to the institution at night. Two open institutions for juveniles train them in industrial and agricultural work, along with animal husbandry. Parole is available for long-term prisoners. Aftercare programs for ex-offenders include voluntary supervision by community members and official agencies which work with releasees from prisons and juvenile training schools to help them adjust in the community. Appended are graphs and tabular data showing the number of persons participating in various correctional programs over a period of years, as well as those admitted to various institutions.