BEST PRACTICES IN THE REINTEGRATION OF FORMER PRISONERS IN HUNGARY

2009.07.24.

Development and Implementation of the Practical Model of Gradual Social Integration 1

BEST PRACTICES IN THEREINTEGRATION OF FORMER PRISONERS IN

HUNGARY

Speaker: Mr. Pál CSONKAEducators’ Centre Association, HU

2009.07.24.


BEST PRACTICES

• Why is there need for help in reintegration?– HU Law: prison is meant to be serving reintegration, as

a penal institution! -> it doesn’t (always) work, OR not enough

– Humanitarian reasons: they need help• Several organisations and projects in Hungary

deal with reintegration of ex-prisoners: they differ in type, size, function, budget etc.

2009.07.24.


BEST PRACTICES

• Types of organisations: – State administration: Ministry of Justice – Department

of Crime Prevention, authorities (labour centres), penal institutions (prisons)

– NGO’s: foundations, associations– „Church” organisations (missions)– Educational institutions (vocational, adult training)– Social welfare „companies”

2009.07.24.


BEST PRACTICES

• Function:– Education– Supportive care– Provide info on job opportunities….. Etc.

• Funding: – State subsidy– EU Structural Funds– Donations

2009.07.24.


BEST PRACTICES

Some examples:• 6 organisations• 9 projects

2009.07.24.


1. CHANGE LANES FOUNDATION

PROFILE:• „Váltósáv” - Private foundation NGO• assistance of prisoners, released offenders and

those with a criminal record in their reintegration in the society and the labour market

• primarily deal with young people (16-35)• continuous (after)care and the operation of a civil

helping system

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STAFF:• 6 workers• Qualification: secondary school teacher, social worker,

social teacher, expert in social politics, public educator, qualified narcology assistant.

HISTORY:• Started as a private school – 2 students were sentenced

to prison – developed a training/care programme

2009.07.24.



ACTIVITIES 1.:• Assisting in the preparation for the secondary school

leaving exam, improving the chances of re-integration• Organizing, operating and maintaining a special,

personality-based learning -teaching programme for first-offenders and young people with a criminal lifestyle

• Recognizing, realizing and reinforcing individual abilities

2009.07.24.



ACTIVITIES 2.:• Psycho-social treatment of personal problems; mental-

hygienic care• Lifestyle assistance• Organizing, operating and maintaining special helping-

problem solving groups supporting the re-integration in the society

• Crime prevention; organizing and managing informative discussions on prevention

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ACTIVITIES 3.:• Operating a civil support system• Providing continuous after-care• Preventing the process of prison socialization• Involving ex-offenders in caring work - as far as

possible - and supporting their training in helping work

• Family care

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ACTIVITIES 4.:• Organizing professional meetings, coordinating

methodology exchange• Methodological and research work concerning

deviance and its possible treatments, with special respect to criminal lifestyle

• Organizing spare time and community activities

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SELECTED PROJECTS:1. „Youth work” in the penal institutions2. „I will learn to learn” and „Create with me!”-

Preparation for release for young people in penal institutions

3. „Changing Programme” - employment of ex-criminal youth and support reintegration in the labour market

2009.07.24.



1. „YOUTH WORK” project - Summary• Aim: to create and increase the possibilities and

chances of reintegration to the society and the labour market of ex-prisoners and/or deviant/criminal young people

• Method: operating a continuous (after)care model and a civil helping system

• Based on the synergy of supportive and educative elements, such as psychosocial care and the aimed delivery of the target group to the training institutions and the labour market

2009.07.24.



1. „YOUTH WORK” project – Indicators• target group: young prisoners aged 15-29• no. of clients: 60, out of which 30 finished the

training course • Financed by: TÁMOP-5.2.5-08/1-2008-0209

child and youth integration (co-financed by EU Structural Funds)

• Budget: 19.270.680 HUF (250.000 LTL)

2009.07.24.



1. „YOUTH WORK” project - Method• Individual and group competence development:

– teaching-training-care-resocialisation forming one system– differentiated education

• Course: 15 people/group x 4 hrs. x 20 occasions• Learning programme (concrete plans: making a living,

education, housing, job seeking)• Supportive care – in the penal institution and after

release

2009.07.24.



1. „YOUTH WORK” project - Content• Competence groups; course elements:

– determining existing skills,– development of mental skills („thinking”),– development of cogninitve skills,– identifying and recognising personal core values,– strengthening emotional factors that enhance the learning

process,– „how to learn” methodology– how the labour market works

2009.07.24.



2. „I will learn to learn” and „Create with me!” projects - Summary

• Aim: the preparation for release of young people (student-age) in penal institutions

• Why? 2 facts:– it is very hard to organise normal school education for

student-age prisoners in the penal institution -> the prisoners don’t know how to learn, they don’t understand the books…

– The only things that girls are interested in is crafts and creative work (based on research)

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2. „I will learn to learn!” and „Create with me!” projects - Indicators

• Target group: „learn” – boys, „create” – girls• no. of clients: 15• Duration: 4 months• Financed by: KAB-PR-08-A - complex prevention

programmes of organisations dealing with drug abuse prevention and drug users (co-financed by EU Structural Funds)

• Budget: 800.000 HUF (10.400 LTL)

2009.07.24.



2. „I will learn to learn!” and „Create with me!” projects - Method

• „classes”: 2 hrs./class × 1 class/week × 13 weeks• art/creative group classes for girls• Learning methodology group classes for boys

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2. „I will learn to learn!” project - Content• 3 phases: theory, practice, application• Competences:

– Improvement of thinking, problem solving, deductive and inductive reasoning, analytical and critical thinking etc.

– Information gathering, communication– identifying personal core values, strengthening

emotional factors that enhance the learning process

2009.07.24.



2. „Create with me!” project - Content• Girls work together in a creative group (like in

former village communities)• Possibility to make contact, to share problems,

ideas, to talk• Creative work = psychosocial effect• Pastime = pleasure

2009.07.24.


1. CHANGE LANES FOUNDATION3. „CHANGING PROGRAME” project - Summary• Aim: to create and increase the possibilities and

chances of reintegration to the society and the labour market of ex-prisoners and/or deviant/criminal young people

• Method: operating a continuous (after)care model with several elements, and a civil helping system

• Based on the synergy of supportive and educative elements, such as psychosocial care and the aimed delivery of the target group to the training institutions and the labour market

2009.07.24.


1. CHANGE LANES FOUNDATION3. „CHANGING PROGRAME” project – indicators• Target group: ex-prisoners and/or deviant/criminal young people• no. of clients:

– Involved in consultation: 210– Entered vocational training: 28– Got employed: 12

• Financed by: National Development Plan Humane Resource Operative Programme HEFOP 2.3.2. (co-financed by EU Structural Funds)

• Budget: 39.225.000 HUF (500.000 LTL)• Duration: 18 months

2009.07.24.



3. „CHANGING PROGRAME” project – elements• During and after prison: supportive care,

consultations, competence programmes, job seeking training, language courses, „Family Group”

• During prison: „Focusing on Freedom” – special training preparing for life after release

• After release: „Job Coaching”

2009.07.24.



3. „JOB COACHING” ELEMENT – Method• employing a „coach” who follows the career

development of the ex-prisoners• They talk the topic over – the coach gives an

analysis and evaluation• Supportive care• Mediation between employee and employer

2009.07.24.


2. TOLNA COUNTY LABOUR CENTRE

PROFILE & ACTIVITIES:• County labour centre (state administration) • used to be 19 county, now 7 regional, work

under Hungarian Public Employment Service• Dealing with all issues of employment:

– Labour market analyses, migration, training guidance, vocational orientation, statistics etc.

2009.07.24.



SELECTED PROJECT:„Give your future a chance!” a project supporting prisoners and ex-prisoners under Probation Service in social reintegration

2009.07.24.



Project - Summary• 10 prisoners and 10 convicts under probation

will undertake a training to acquire a nationally accepted vocation (ECDL*), plus other courses, self-knowledge groups

* European Computer Driving Licence

2009.07.24.



Project - Indicators• target group: prisoners and ex-prisoners under

probation, especially of roma ethnicity• no. of clients: 20• budget: 4.981.200 HUF (63.000 LTL)• financing body: National Crime Prevention

Board (NCPB), Ministry of Justice and Law Enforcement

2009.07.24.



Project - Method• Matching the goals of the National Crime

Prevention Strategy: to prevent repeated crime• Groups attend resocialisation and personality

development courses conducted by psychologists

• Vocational training (ECDL)

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Project - Content1. Determining suitability (based on California

Personality Inventory Test) – interviews2. Psychologists make a list of applicants and start

work3. Large „classes” don’t work, they are too big -

small groups of 4-5 are OK: gradual development of mutual trust, honest atmosphere

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Project - Content4. Training on „How the labour market works” by

experts – various forms of training5. ECDL course – in the prison6. Job seeking advice: behaviuor development

based on the methods of Nathan Azrin (USA)7. How to use the phone, write a CV, take a job

interview

2009.07.24.


3. THE REGIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF KECSKEMÉT

PROFILE & ACTIVITIES :• adult training centre and official examination

centre of the region Central Hungary• founded in 1993 by the Ministry of Labour and

the municipality of Kecskemét city

2009.07.24.



Park Gardener Project - Summary• Title: „Park gardener training in Állampuszta

Penal Institution”• Vocational training and qualification (nationally

accepted)• Aimed to assist the reintegration of former

prisoners to the community• Taking place in the penal institution

2009.07.24.



Park Gardener Project - Indicators• target group: prisoners and under probation• no. of clients: 18• Duration: 2005. 10. 03 - 2006. 04. 28. • budget: 3.402.000 HUF (43.000 LTL)• financing body: National Crime Prevention

Board (NCPB), Ministry of Justice and Law Enforcement

2009.07.24.



Park Gardener Project - Method• The target group is mostly roma and/or coming

from Eastern Hungary, where high rates of unemployment and crime prevail

• A nationally recognised qualification increases their chances to have a job when released

• Additional course: personality development, job seeking techniques

2009.07.24.



Park Gardener Project - Content1. Selection of participants (health status)2. Signing of contracts for the training3. Personality development training (90 hours)4. Park gardener training (500 hours)

2009.07.24.



Park Gardener Project - Personality development training

1. Group building2. Self-knowledge3. Personal SWOT analysis4. Labour market training5. Criteria of successful vocation and employment6. Personal long term activity plan

2009.07.24.



Park Gardener Project - Park gardener training 1. Basics of gardening2. Economy3. Environment and safety at work4. Technical skills5. European studies6. Practical work7. Examination

2009.07.24.


4. „TOOLBOOK” Project Team

PROFILE:Project team with different organisations consisting of:

• Sopronkőhidai Penal Institution• FKFSZ – Employment Service of Budapest• Menedék - the Hungarian Association for

Migrants• The Regional Training Centre of Békéscsaba

2009.07.24.



SELECTED PROJECT:• „TOOLBOOK” - Handbook for employers who

are willing to accept ex-prisoners• Handbook - project product downloadable from:

http://equal.nfu.hu/download.php?docID=104

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Project - Indicators• target group: employers and future employers

of workers with changed abilities and special needs, e.g. ex-prisoners

• no. of clients: national level (the book is free)• budget: ?• financing body: EQUAL Hungary – EU Structural

Funds + Hungarian Government

2009.07.24.



Project - MethodThe project product is a 100-page handbook for employers, containing definitions, tips, examples of best practice, training outlines, case studies, legal and practical advice for the establishment and development of anti-discriminative workplaces for special employees: women, members of large families, older employees, immigrants and asylum seekers, employees starting their career, ex-prisoners, employees with different ethnicity, religious or sexual orientation, handicap.

2009.07.24.



Project - ContentThe chapter dealing with ex-prisoners lists some „myths and stereotypes” concerning the employment of ex-prisoners and the facts related to these issues, e.g. how the employer can receive state subsidies when employing ex-prisoners.

2009.07.24.


5. RETEXTIL FOUNDATION PROFILE & ACTIVITIES:• Private foundation NGO• Retextil Foundation’s aim is to promote an original know-

how of recycling domestic and industrial second-hand textiles.

• Using a traditional, manual textile technique, the common human ability of creativeness can be developed and at same time textile waste be reduced.

• To create Retextil products – bags, puffs, swings – there is no need for any other sources except human energy and it also enhances the cooperation of groups and individuals.

2009.07.24.


5. RETEXTIL FOUNDATION

Retextil Project - Summary• Retextil is a method to manufacture domestic

items (bags, clothes, rags, lampshades, sculptures, swings etc.) from textile waste

• 100% manual work – community rehabilitation• 100% recycled – environmentally friendly• Unique ecodesign – artistic value

2009.07.24.



Retextil Project - Indicators• Workshop: in Pécs• No. of workers: 24 (at present)• Handicapped, underprivileged, special needs

workers„Retextil is a language where we can learn

about the organic order in the world around us.”

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6. "UWYTA" Public Benefit Company

PROFILE:• Rehabilitation and employment non profit

company (social economy)• Main goal: to reduce the social effects of

handicap by finding suitable employment for their clients

• Pioneers in employment of workers with special needs. (Unfortunately went bankrupt in 2008.)

2009.07.24.



ACTIVITIES:• Provides the place of work with special features• Humanistic approach: equal to all workers• More than 1000 workers in 2008.• In 34 branch locations in HU in various fields• Rehabilitation treatment + employment of

employees with special needs

2009.07.24.



SELECTED PROJECTS:1. Employment of employees with special needs 2. RING shop

2009.07.24.



1. Employment Project - Summary• Workers with special needs• A diverse range of services and products (eg.

supplying parts)• own commercial network (market research,

sales representatives, logistics)• Innovative ideas, quality control, high quality

2009.07.24.



1. Employment Project - Indicators• target group: workers with changed ablilities

and special needs (incl. Psychiatric patients)• no. of clients: 1000 workers• budget: fixed sum subsidy from the state per

annum after number of workers• financing body: labour centre / state subsidy

2009.07.24.



1. Employment Project - MethodWooden items, furniture

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1. Employment Project - Method

Painted glass decorative items

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6. "UWYTA" Public Benefit Company1. Employment Project - MethodHand wovenrugs and carpets

2009.07.24.



1. Employment Project - Method

Hand madedecoration

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1. Employment Project - MethodCandles

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2. RING Shop Project - Summary• Opened first shop in 2000 in Pécs, in 2005 in

Szerencs• Own products (interior design, household)• Low prices

2009.07.24.


6. "UWYTA" Public Benefit Company2. RING Shop Project - Method

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

BEST PRACTICES IN THE REINTEGRATION OF FORMER PRISONERS IN HUNGARY

Documents

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change lanes foundationprofile

change lanes foundationstaff

change lanes foundation1

support reintegration

chances of reintegration

excriminal youth

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