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Educational Development Work for Remand Children in Kajang Prison

We first started this work in June 2005 at Kajang Prison.

Our mission is:

To educate and train remand young prisoners to help them regain their self-respect so that they can become ethical and productive members of society.

To focus on helping young prisoners to develop victim awareness and victim empathy, along with personal insight and growth.

To provide legal assistance (in partnership with the legal aid bureau) to speed up the trial process of the young prisoners.

Educational Development Work for Remand Children in Kajang Prison

There are about 1,000 young prisoners in Kajang & Sg. Buloh prisons. These young prisoners are kept in prison from three months to a year. They are suspected of committing petty crimes (such as selling pirated DVDs, petty thefts and illegal racing) to more serious ones (such as murder or rape). The current focus of our work is among those who are still under remand.
We have organised rehabilitation programmes for the inmates at the Kajang prison such as tuition and group and individual therapy classes. We also conduct UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM (public examinations) tuition classes.

We have set up a few key resource materials to be used in our education programmes. They are teaching aids, modules for character building, introductory lessons for skills training and computer laboratories.

Apart from running classes, we were also involved in a few ad-hoc projects with the prison authorities. Some of these projects were carried out in partnership with other organisations.

Among the activities carried out regularly are gatherings for festivities, medical check-ups, legal aid and other social activities.

Educational Development Work for Remand Children in Kajang Prison

Effective 2005, Shelter conducts educational development programmes for young prisoners who are remanded in Kajang Prison, as was requested by the Prison Department. Currently there are 1718 young prisoners in Malaysian prisons out of this 650 remand young prisoners are currently involved in this programme. These young prisoners can be remanded between three months to a year, pending a hearing for crimes like selling pirated DVDs, petty thefts and illegal racing, to more serious ones, such as murder, rape or armed robbery.

The prime objective of Shelter’s work is to provide vocational training, individual consultations, group therapy and life skills’ training in the prison and to follow up counselling and vocational training in the prison and also via a halfway home.

The goal is to empower the young offenders to be re-integrated into society and strengthen their ability of attaining a profession. The primary activity is to provide individual group therapy, life skills and vocational training to imprisoned young prisoners in remand and follow up in a half way home for released young prisoners. Activities to assist parents in the form of legal aid, parental counselling to visit their children in prison and support children to return home after their release and to provide humanitarian assistance to the children in the prison are critical follow ups.

From the implementation of this rehabilitation programme, we have received positive responses and development from the young prisoners in remand. The prison officials have commended after Shelter’s involvement there are a lot of improvements in the inmate’s attitude. Currently there are 6 classrooms with basic facilities for conducting educational programmes.

Educational Development Work for Remand Children in Kajang Prison

PRESENT SITUATION

Among the activities we have carried out since include:

1. Evaluation of self-esteem and stress coping skill
among young prisoners.

An internal evaluation was undertaken on 250 inmates to find out their level of self-esteem and stress while in detention. These evaluations also help us to identify their needs so that we are able to work out an effective educational programme for them.

2. Rehabilitation Training Programmes for
Juveniles on Remand

Academic and character building programmes were designed to help them understand themselves better increase knowledge and to discover their positive self that are more adjusted to the norms of society. The programme aims to realign their mindset and disposition in order for them to develop a healthier lifestyle and live a more purposeful life. Vocational skills training are offered to the less academically inclined in the hope that they will not have to resort to illegal activities for financial support once they are released.

3. Development of Training Modules for Group Intervention Activities

Training modules were developed by Shelter for Character Building, Computer Skills, Welding, Plumbing and Basic Literacy and Numeracy.Outlines of the activities used in the intervention therapies were compiled into a module and tested for their effectiveness.

4. Vocational Training

Shelter with the support of various donors has set up a computer laboratory in the cell equipped with tables and chairs. Educational and musical programmes have been installed for the inmates use. Training modules on software application and computer building and servicing have been developed by Shelter. In co-operation with a computer college, Shelter train the prison staff to become trainers for the inmates. Shelter is making arrangements for issuance of certificate from a local college.

5. Academic Classes

Classes are held for students who will be sitting for the PMR, SPM and STPM examinations.Illitrate young prisoners and school dropouts are provided basic literacy coaching in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Maths.

6. Advocacy and Legal Aid

Shelter provides free legal assistance to young prisoners, who are able to meet certain criteria that Shelter has set forth, which include regular class attendance and good behaviour.

7. Medical and Dental Clinic

Shelter in partnership with various organizations, from time to time organize medical and dental clinics for the young prisoners on remand.

8. Festive Celebrations

Shelter with support from other organization organize or sponsor festive celebration by providing them with goodies and special food.

9. Recreational and Sports Activities

Shelter also sponsors sports and recreational equipments and musical instruments for the use of the inmates. Effective February 2008 Shelter will be conducting musical lessons with the objective of forming a band for young prisoners in prison.

10. Family Reconciliation Programs

Shelter also provide family reconciliation through family counseling and arranging family to visit the young inmates during festive seasons.

11. Aid for Mothers in Women and Babies Women Prison

Shelter with support from individuals and support group provide baby care products, nutritional supplements, milk powder, towels and soap for babies and women residents in Kajang Prison. Effective February 2008 we will be starting literacy and academic classes for women inmates and also to conduct medical check up for women inmates.

12. Recognition for Shelter’s Contribution

Mr. James Nayagam executive director of Shelter has been appointed as a Council Member of National Advisory and Consultancy for children by the Minister of Development for Women, Family and Community.

Shelter was awarded with a Special Award by the Prison Department of Malaysia in conjunction with their launching of National Level Prisons Day celebration at Prison College in Kajang on 4^th November 2007.

The award was given in recognition of Shelter’s commitment in working with the prison authorities and providing prison educational development services for juveniles in Kajang Prison.

FUTURE PLANS

Halfway Home

Statistics show that almost three in five returning young inmates will be charged with new crimes within three years of their release from prison; and two in five will be reincarcerated. These numbers suggest that the majority of young ex-prisoners will return to criminal activity, contributing further to the presence of violence and crime in already struggling neighborhoods.

In returning to criminal activity, young ex-prisoners not only reduce their own chances of living healthy and positive lives, but they also contribute to the presence of violence and crime in already struggling neighborhoods, and to the dissolution of their families — a fact that has consequences for children and future generations. With its future plans lined up, both for the immediate and long term, it is felt that the prison work currently run in Kajang Prison and from Shelter’s HQ, should have its own halfway home.

Prison Educational Development Work should have its own premises in order to continue with an effective rehabilitation and educational programmes for young ex-offenders to make their life more meaningful. Drawing together the key issues and needs of juvenile delinquents, Shelter is planning for the development of a new halfway home as a counselling and training centre to cater for young ex-offenders.

The halfway home is to draw maximum mileage from the Shelter name and has been designed for a rapid start-up, with maximization of human and physical resources, public imaging of a strong infrastructure and lean management. The estimated capital cost is RM 3.5 million and the operating cost is approximately RM 200,000 per annum.

‘ANUGERAH KHAS 2007’
(SPECIAL AWARD)
AWARDED TO SHELTER HOME BY
MALAYSIA PRISONS DEPARTMENT

Shelter was awarded with an ‘Anugerah Khas’ (Special Award) by the Prison Department of Malaysia in conjunction with their launching of National Level Prisons Day celebration at Prison College in Kajang on 4^th November 2007.

The award was given in recognition of Shelter’s commitment in working with the prison authorities and providing prison educational development services for juveniles in Kajang Prison.

Appreciation Gift from the Kajang Prison, Selangor, MALAYSIA (Jabatan Penjara Malaysia)

Effective 2005, Shelter started a programme for male young prisoners at Kajang prison to provide a range of educational and rehabilitation services including group intervention activities, academic enhancement classes, legal aid, vocational training, and counseling for family reconciliation.

Shelter also offer after-release rehabilitation programmes for remanded young prisoners. It covers programmes targeted at keeping minor offenders out of prison, provide treatment to young prisoners who are victims of child abuse and neglect, helping them to employment opportunities, to provide counseling for young prisoners and their families and many more, including forming a brass band for young prisoners in prison and a halfway home.

As a sign of recognition and acknowledgement of Shelter’s commitment towards educational and rehabilitation activities of young prisoners in Kajang Prison, it offers Shelter’s further commitment to increase quality services towards excellence.

Mr. James Nayagam said the award the further encourage him to work harder for the development of young prisoners in Kajang prison alone but also in all the prison in Malaysia if they need our services. He further emphasized, Shelter will always support our government’s policy in preventing and reducing crime in our country.

Anugerah Khas Hari Jabatan Penjara 2007 - Special Award to Shelter Home for Children in conjunction with Prison's Day 2007 Certificate of Appreciation from the Prison's Department of Malaysia to SHELTER HOME

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For further information on Shelter’s services for educational development work please call us at
03-7955 0663 or drop us an e-mail at shelter@po.jaring.my

Participants of the Social Work Exposure Programme visiting the Kajang Prison (Penjara Kajang)

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