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)