Inmates know not what to do after freedom<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Many convicts who were given back their freedom
\non Friday were deeply confused about what to do next as they
\nthought they had lost their place in society.<\/p>\n
Wawan, 31, was one of 14 convicts at the Tangerang
\ncorrectional institution whose sentence was reduced and was
\nreleased on Friday.<\/p>\n
He had served a term of 11 months for swindling goods from a
\nfactory he had worked at. He said he had given up hope of finding
\nanother job.<\/p>\n
\"I think I'd better help my relative's business,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
But in contrast to Wawan, young offender Rachmat, 21, who had
\nbeen sent to the same institution for two years and whose
\nsentence was reduced by two months, expressed hope that he would
\nstill have a chance to get a job.<\/p>\n
Wawan and Rachmat, a graduate of an electronic vocational high
\nschool, are luckier than most others, who had barely finished
\nschool and had no skills at all.<\/p>\n
Not all correctional institutions seem to provide training
\ncourses or education, which are badly needed to help improve the
\nprisoners' skills.<\/p>\n
Problems such as these are what haunt the 4,058 prisoners all
\nover Indonesia who were released on Friday after they received
\nremission. This reduction in sentences is given annually in
\nconjunction with the commemoration of the country's Independence
\nDay on Aug. 17, or at other major holidays such as Idul Fitri and
\nChristmas.<\/p>\n
This year's announcement of remission was made by Minister of
\nJustice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra at the Tangerang
\ncorrectional institution for boys.<\/p>\n
The minister announced that this year 32,112, or 79.68 percent
\nof a total of 40,167 prisoners throughout the country had been
\ngiven remission of one month to five months.<\/p>\n
\"The government has decided to give remission more than once a
\nyear in the hope that those who are rehabilitated at the
\ncorrectional institutions can serve their time and immediately
\nreturn to society,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Businessman Ricardo Gelael, who was given 18 months at the
\nCipinang Penitentiary for a graft offense, for example, was also
\ngranted remission for one month. He was one of the 11 other
\nconvicts at the penitentiary who were so treated.<\/p>\n
Ricardo, who was the partner in crime of former president
\nSoeharto's fugitive son Hutomo \"Tommy\" Mandala Putra, was given
\nsuch a privilege due to his good conduct.<\/p>\n
Yusril said that if Tommy turned himself in to serve his
\nsentence, his term might possibly be longer, since he should also
\nbe detained for his suspected involvement in a series of bombings
\nin the capital and his alleged role in the murder of Supreme
\nCourt Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita.<\/p>\n
He admitted that there are still problems in establishing the
\nideal role for a correctional institution, which should no longer
\nrely on the concept of punishment for the convicted.<\/p>\n
\"In the future, not all those convicted should be jailed.
\nThere are alternatives, whereby they can lead a normal life with
\nrestricted freedom,\" he added. (bby)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/inmates-know-not-what-to-do-after-freedom-1447893297",
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