President highlights role of NGOs in prisoner rehabilitation

President visits Corradino Correctional Facility. Video: Chris Mangion.

President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca has called for more coordination between the prison authorities and NGOs to facilitate their rehabilitation into the community.  

The plea came during a visit to Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF) – the first of her presidency.  She praised important changes underway at CCF, which are intended to provide more psychosocial support to inmates and their families.

The Head of State also met privately with the Director of Prisons, Ray Zammit and Prison Chaplain Fr. Franco Fenech, before being given a presentation on the facility.

As head of the Community Chest Fund, which also helps the families of inmates who often live in poverty and need support, the President said that Fund was called in to help after cases of inmates who had nothing to go home to upon release surfaced.

Acting Director of Prisons Ray Zammit said that the task is a large one, but also believed that NGOs have an important role in improving life in and after prison. One priority, he said, is to reduce the rate of reoffending, currently 43%.

Coleiro Preca was particularly impressed with the recently inaugurtated music room. “Not only is it a therapeutic outlet for anger and bitterness, but it also gives inmates the opportumnoity to develop their artistic abilities”.

The Head of State said that she wanted inmates to know that she is also their president. “Whilst they must carry the responsibility for their past crimes, they must also be responsible for their future and that of their families. They must take their reform seriously”, she said.