PS BEACCO: WE ARE ADOPTING INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO HELP INMATES REFORM

By Pili Chimerah

State Department for Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr Salome Beacco says the department is integrating innovative approaches to augment rehabilitation efforts within all correctional facilities across the country.

Speaking at the Manyani maximum GK prison when she commissioned a barrier Gate, a Public Relations and Customer Care Centre and an In-person Therapeutic Community Class, the PS said the efforts include introduction of evidence-based programs that have been proven to be effective in reducing recidivism.

The PS said the programmes include cognitive-behavioral therapies, like the in-person Therapeutic Community Class that has been piloted at the Manyani GK Prison involving 35 inmates, mental health counseling, vocational training, and formal education.

In her address to prison officers, the PS urged them to manage their finances efficiently as well as uphold professional standards in the course of duty.

"Work hard with gratitude and for the common good," she told the officers.

This even as she called for transparency, integrity and accountability to ensure prudent utilization of available resources and the adoption of innovative concepts to help address some of the challenges facing the country's Prisons.

“I urge officer in charges to put more efforts towards making prisons self-sufficient especially with the current fiscal environment. Consider producing more products to be monetized with available labour within prisons including brick making.” She told the officers.

The PS at the same time urged inmates to be prisoners of hope as they serve their sentences and endeavor to make use of the available resources including the Therapeutic Community Class which was launched at the Manyani GK Prison which will help in their reformation.