In Prison Services
Pre-release interviews and counselling
Being able to meet with a prisoner in the time shortly before their release can dramatically affect what happens to them once they walk out of the gates. For this reason, we endeavour to obtain the names of those prisoners who are being released within the next three months. We can then begin to visit them and help them to prepare for their release, to make plans, and to begin to resolve some of the issues that led to imprisonment. Building relationship with people in prison will also develop trust, so that they will be more inclined to come to Blue Gate House on release. For various reason, we are not currently able to meet people on release, so rely on developing relationship and ensuring information about our post-release services is disseminated to all prisoners.
Pre-release group counselling courses
Blue Gate House social workers conduct 12 week courses for groups of 12-15 students who have about 6 months left of their sentence. These courses are conducted in CC1 Men's prison, CC2 Women and Youth prison and Kandal provincial prison. The courses consist of 12 x 2 hour lessons once per week. In this way, we are able to help up to 120 people per year begin a journey of self discovery and behavioural change in a number of areas of their life. These students are also met regularly by the teachers in one-to-one situations.
The pre-release courses include the following subjects:
HIV/AIDS awareness, Drug and Alcohol awareness, Who Am I?, Choices, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Gender Issues, Anger management, and employment options.
As at March 2007, over 300 prisoners including at least 100 women have taken part in these courses.