Inmates know not what to do after freedom

Inmates know not what to do after freedom

JAKARTA (JP): Many convicts who were given back their freedom
on Friday were deeply confused about what to do next as they
thought they had lost their place in society.

Wawan, 31, was one of 14 convicts at the Tangerang
correctional institution whose sentence was reduced and was
released on Friday.

He had served a term of 11 months for swindling goods from a
factory he had worked at. He said he had given up hope of finding
another job.

"I think I'd better help my relative's business," he told The
Jakarta Post on Friday.

But in contrast to Wawan, young offender Rachmat, 21, who had
been sent to the same institution for two years and whose
sentence was reduced by two months, expressed hope that he would
still have a chance to get a job.

Wawan and Rachmat, a graduate of an electronic vocational high
school, are luckier than most others, who had barely finished
school and had no skills at all.

Not all correctional institutions seem to provide training
courses or education, which are badly needed to help improve the
prisoners' skills.

Problems such as these are what haunt the 4,058 prisoners all
over Indonesia who were released on Friday after they received
remission. This reduction in sentences is given annually in
conjunction with the commemoration of the country's Independence
Day on Aug. 17, or at other major holidays such as Idul Fitri and
Christmas.

This year's announcement of remission was made by Minister of
Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra at the Tangerang
correctional institution for boys.

The minister announced that this year 32,112, or 79.68 percent
of a total of 40,167 prisoners throughout the country had been
given remission of one month to five months.

"The government has decided to give remission more than once a
year in the hope that those who are rehabilitated at the
correctional institutions can serve their time and immediately
return to society," he said.

Businessman Ricardo Gelael, who was given 18 months at the
Cipinang Penitentiary for a graft offense, for example, was also
granted remission for one month. He was one of the 11 other
convicts at the penitentiary who were so treated.

Ricardo, who was the partner in crime of former president
Soeharto's fugitive son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, was given
such a privilege due to his good conduct.

Yusril said that if Tommy turned himself in to serve his
sentence, his term might possibly be longer, since he should also
be detained for his suspected involvement in a series of bombings
in the capital and his alleged role in the murder of Supreme
Court Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita.

He admitted that there are still problems in establishing the
ideal role for a correctional institution, which should no longer
rely on the concept of punishment for the convicted.

"In the future, not all those convicted should be jailed.
There are alternatives, whereby they can lead a normal life with
restricted freedom," he added. (bby)