THE recidivism rate in Vaturekuka Prison has decreased over the past years, Prisons supervisor Northern Sakiusa Veiwili revealed yesterday. 

The percentage of prisoners going out and back into prison dropped from 2008's 55 per cent to 45 per cent last year and 39 per cent this year. 

This, he said, indicated the success of the Yell-ow Ribbon Project (YRP), which they had been promoting at grassroots level in the Northern Division. 

"Many of the inmates' lives have changed for the positive because of the programs we hold for them," he said. 

"The prisons and corrections facility is providing them educational programs such as agriculture farming. "Many of the inmates have become successful farmers through the programs conducted here including land management." 

Mr Veiwili said trust was an important factor for change in inmates. 

"We can reduce recidivism further if we teach them to become trustworthy and learn to trust them too," he said. 

"These are important steps in bringing positive change to the lives of prisoners and help them become better people in life," he said. 

The goals of the YRP are enshrined within the three major themes of the activities that need to be pursued under the program. 

The first is to create "awareness" amongst the community of the need to give second chances to offenders. 

The second is to generate "acceptance" of the ex-offenders and their families into the community. 

The third is to inspire community "action" to support the rehabilitation and the reintegration of ex-offenders back in their midst. 

Source: Fiji Times 

Acting Assistant Superintendent Sakiusa Veiwili.