The re-offending rate has reduced – Panapasa

Fiji Corrections Service Director Rehabilitation Salote Panapasa says the re-offending rate has reduced to 1.7 percent in the 2019-2020 period compared to 2.5 percent for the same period in 2018-2019.

She says they have 2,439 inmates in the Corrections and Remand Centres and the Yellow Ribbon Program is mandatory for all the inmates.

Panapasa says the most challenging part of their work is having inmates accepted back into the community and this is why they have the Yellow Ribbon Program and other programs associated with like the Yellow Ribbon Walk and their Employment Expo.

Fiji Corrections Service Senior Psychologist Elenani Vuru says when an inmate is incarcerated, the approach given to the person will be to establish acceptance and to assist them to cope with the challenges within the institution.

She also says they interview them and build trust with the inmates.

Vuru says from their findings, they identify the root cause of their criminal behavior.

The Yellow Ribbon Walk which is scheduled for this Saturday will start at 5.30am from Albert Park.