TAPAH, Aug 29 — A transit home will open in Taiping next month to help ex-convicts learn a variety of useful skills.
Perak prison director Charin Promwichit Chem said this facility, managed by the Larut Matang and Selama parole office, is expected to house 50 inmates at any given time.
“Usually, former inmates placed in this transit home are those who do not (have family) or have not been accepted by their family to return home,” he said in a press conference after attending the Ihsan Madani Prisoner Release Programme, in conjunction with the 67th National Day celebration, at Tapah Prison here today.
“At the halfway home, former inmates will be exposed to various programmes on education, religion, community service, and so on to make it easier for them to acclimatise (to society).”
Halfway homes provide temporary accommodation and classes for ex-convicts under the Prisons Department, in collaboration with non-governmental groups, to house detainees on parole and ex-detainees.
Ex-inmates would also be exposed to various beneficial and scientific activities in a period of three consecutive months after serving their prison sentences.
Meanwhile, Charin said halfway homes are believed to contribute to fewer repeat offenders.
“Statistics also show the (repeat offence) rate is only 0.24 per cent compared with 17 per cent recorded for ex-inmates who do not (enrol in halfway homes),” he said.
— Bernama
