 Prisoners in a cell at the detention house in My Tu district, Soc Trang province. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Tran Ut Em who has finished his prison term was sentenced to 36 months. But thanks to good behavior in prison, he was released after 30 months. Since returning to his commune, with help from local authorities, Ut Em’s life has become stable.
Ut Em told VOV that he is now a watchman for a shrimp farm. For one year, he has done security work for 2 shrimp crops, earning a net salary of 330 dollars a month. He has bought a truck to transport sand, stone, and construction materials.
“Thanks to hard work, my wife and I were able to build a house 3 years ago. We’ll keep working hard to support our children and improve our standard of living,” said Ut Em.
Like Ut Em, Huynh Minh Hoang, who served more than 8 years in prison, has received help from local authorities.
“I got a business loan of 1,500 USD from the social policy bank to plant 1,000 guava trees on 7,000 square meters of land. Guava is harvested all year round and gives us an income of 1,200 USD a year. In the past, I did farm work,” said Hoang.
There are social organizations that meet regularly and listen to the opinions and thoughts of former prison inmates and give them advice, provide vocational training, and find them jobs. Local officials often visit and encourage them to rebuild their life.
 Major Thach Quoc Thi talks with Tran Ut Em and his wife. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Major Thach Quoc Thi, chief of the Lich Hoi Thuong commune police, said, “Local authorities help all offenders reintegrate into the community. The social policy bank provides loans for production, trading, animal husbandry, and farming. If offenders need a bank loan, we ask the leaders of the commune People's Committee to consider.”
Special care has been given to replicating community reintegration models, said Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Thuy, Chief of the Thoi An Hoi commune police.
He added, “Legal advice is given to returnees about possible problems they might have re-integrating. They must make a commitment not to re-offend. Their performance is reviewed every month.”