Prison Journalism: Learning and rehabilitation in prison

Prison Journalism: Learning and rehabilitation in prisonDean Mashimbwe, a Zimbabwean migrant residing in Cape Town, was incarcerated at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre from 2016 until 2017.

by Dean Mashimbwe

22-03-2024 08:06

in Prison Journalism

Prison Image by Unsplash

Being arrested and locked in prison can be the most stressful experience. There are many horrible things that happen behind bars, such as physical abuse, gangsterism, sexual abuse, and violence. As prisoners spend most of their time locked up, the prison management tries to minimize boredom for prisoners by offering different projects. For instance, during the time I was in jail, I participated in a project called restorative justice. This initiative helps reduce gangsterism and violence among prisoners by keeping them occupied and busy.

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Celebrations and Socialization I remember when I was in jail, we celebrated Youth Day and Mandela Day. Everyone was excited; there was a lot of entertainment, and even the prison food was well-cooked that day. We were allowed to socialize with female prisoners for a few minutes, which every prisoner felt was a great memory. There was also a prison tournament for soccer, in which we played with people from the Maximum Security and us, who were juveniles at that time. For some security reasons, most recreational privileges were granted to inmates who were sentenced, not those who were on remand. However, a few remand prisoners were allowed to join us.

Rehabilitation and Educational Opportunities Inmates with drug problems are given rehabilitation programs so that they won't fall into the same trap again. Prisoners in Pollsmoor are given jobs as part of recreation and rehabilitation. Apart from that, inmates willing to continue their education had opportunities; there were inmates who even obtained their matric certificates, so they would have something to do upon release. Sentenced inmates from Medium B section Prison are also allowed to pursue tertiary education, such as national certificates and diplomas. This greatly helps many prisoners upon their release and also helps minimize gangsterism, which is a dominant activity in Pollsmoor.

As part of recreation, inmates with longer sentences are offered maintenance jobs, like electrical work or plumbing. This not only keeps the inmates occupied but also improves their mental well-being. Psychologists are available in prison to offer counseling and rehabilitation for inmates to overcome issues that can destroy a person mentally, such as depression and anxiety. It is believed that some inmates end up dying by suicide in prison. Most inmates in Pollsmoor suffer due to gang violence. There are non-gang programs to encourage inmates not to join gangsterism. Every Sunday, people from outside come to lead church services, all part of the efforts made by the prison for rehabilitation.

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DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

Should you wish to assist in the rehabilitation of former inmates and help put money into the pockets of those who have struggled to earn a living during and after incarceration, click HERE

RESTORE is an NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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