A conference organized by the RISe Foundation was held, aimed at increasing awareness of the use of alternative therapeutic strategies for individuals who stray from justice, such as detention centers. Such systems offer effective ways to rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners. This conference was financed by the Small Initiative Support Scheme (SIS) of the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector.
This conference was addressed by the Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering Julia Farrugia Portelli and the Minister for the Interior, Security and Work Byron Camilleri.
The RISe Foundation has also invited two international experts to discuss this topic in order to provide knowledge from successful models around the world. These were Professor David Edward Rose from the University of Newcastle (UK) and Hans Claus, Criminologist and Director of a prison in Oudenaarde in Belgium. Two members of the RISe Foundation also spoke in order to better explain the thinking behind this concept.
Minister Julia Farrugia Farrugia Portelli praised the initiative of RISe for organizing this conference on this subject. “It is gratifying how the voluntary organizations around us are managing the funds given to them to address such themes. I look forward to carefully examining the outcome of this conference,” stated Minister Farrugia Portelli.
Minister Byron Camilleri explained how in recent years various measures have been taken so that there is more emphasis on rehabilitation while a person is serving a prison sentence. This could be done both through various measures taken within the Correctional Services Agency, inside the prison itself, as well as outside the prison including in partnership with several other entities. He explained how an investment was made both in medical care and through various professionals who work for rehabilitation with these people every day. This is through a treatment plan according to individual needs so that once he leaves prison he will be a rehabilitated person and have the ability to integrate back into society. This is at the same time that work is continuously carried out to keep the prison free of drugs, because no rehabilitation can be built on addictions.
Minister Camilleri explained how the Ministry works hand in hand with several other entities, including the RISe Foundation which runs a half-way house, for those people who have reached the end of their sentence so that they can better prepared to return to society. This along with other rehabilitation programs including those focused on drugs and addictions.
“Currently two halfway houses operate and soon the third halfway house will start operating, which with the collaboration of RISe, will accommodate only women. This will be the first one that has ever been here in our country, where the focus is totally on the rehabilitation of these people”, said Minister Camilleri where he also explained how they are at an advanced stage preparations so that electronic tagging is introduced in our country.
The co-founder and Chairperson of RISe Foundation, Charlie Mifsud, stated that “Conferences like these emphasize the importance of extending the parameters of Restorative Justice. An effective way of doing this is through detention houses. Through these initial discussions among the invited stakeholders they can lead to possibly pave the way together for implementation in the future.”
The Chief Executive of the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector, Mauro Pace Parascandalo noted and emphasized the variety of projects and organizations that benefit from the Council’s funds and wished Fondazzjoni RISe every success in their projects, particularly those financed by the Council.
