Kovačević: Ex-convicts can improve with great effort
Director and head of the Institute for Performing Arts and Social Work, Marina Kovačević, stated that the programs implemented in Serbia's correctional system, with the support of the Ministry of Justice and the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions, aim not at punishment, but at behavioral correction and crime reduction, and that with great effort and work, ex-convicts can change for the better.
TL;DR
- Serbian correctional programs aim for behavioral correction and crime reduction, not punishment.
- Successful rehabilitation requires the individual's predisposition, self-belief, and desire for change.
- Vocational training, such as horse shoeing and dog training, provides employable skills and fosters responsibility.
- Artistic projects, like theater performances involving inmates, help them express themselves and understand societal dynamics.
- These programs offer a path to a better future, emphasizing that individuals have the right to correct mistakes.
- Childhood abuse is identified as a significant factor contributing to later violent behavior.
- Women in the correctional system often face unique challenges due to past trauma and societal stigma.
- The post-penal reception period is crucial for reintegration, yet ex-convicts often face societal judgment.
- Serbia's system is compared to the US system, with Serbia noted for a higher level of human rights respect and a greater focus on rehabilitation.