Rehabilitate inmates to reduce re-offending - Mallia

The systems needed to rehabilitate offenders were in place but never worked until the Labour Party was elected to government, according to the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Manuel Mallia.

The statement was made during the minister’s address at the final conference of the EU co-funded STREAM (Strategic Targeting of Recidivism through Evaluation And Monitoring) project, this morning. 

The project, which has been running for 2 years, aims to build a European network of criminal justice practitioners, academics and policy makers to evaluate and develop better practices across a range of offender services and organisations.

Mallia told delegates that probation and parole are only two of the tools available to achieve rehabilitation, but not the only ones. “They will not work in a vacuum“ said the minister. “They need to be well insulated within a correctional facility that serves it purpose.”

The minister emphasised the importance of striking a balance between protecting public safety and rehabilitating offenders. “By rehabilitating offenders, we are reducing recidivism”, said Mallia, adding that studies have shown that rehabilitation programs do work.

Describing the abuse of drugs amongst prisoners and, to a lesser extent, staff as rampant when he first became minister, Mallia said his first priority, upon being given his portfolio, was to tackle this problem. He introduced several new procedures and regimes, including replacing the prison sniffer dogs, which “had become like pets”. 

The probation department has also been reinforced and now boast 35 employees with postgraduate degrees.

“The message is clear,” said Mallia, “We don’t permit drugs in prison and those who are caught with them there will be heavily punished.”

Speaking about his 39 years as a practising criminal lawyer, Mallia described inactivity as “the worst enemy of the incarcerated”, adding that government wanted prison to be an educational experience. He pointed to the recent introduction of a curriculum and the employment of full-time lecturers at Corradino.  

“We also have two full-time lecturers on charge of sports [in prison]. This has been so successful that prison now has a football team who will soon compete in an international masters tournament.”

Prisoners are now also able to benefit from the use of a music room, said the minister, adding that some prisoners have recorded songs and successfully presented them to the public. Prisoners are also working for a textiles company, with a portion of the wages earned being deducted and donated to the victim support fund.

“The process of transforming prison into a correctional facility has just begun” said Mallia and warned that “the journey will be long and arduous”.