Prison officials stress need for rehabilitation
Prison is not a nice place … but it’s a whole lot nicer than it used to be. Today I visited the facility at Hattieville and found that in addition to improving rehabilitation efforts behind the walls, officials are looking at life on the outside.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
The Kolbe Foundation estimates that of the thirteen hundred inmates incarcerated at the Belize Central Prison, thirty percent of the population–almost four hundred people–will one day find themselves back behind bars following their release. Why? According to the institution’s board chairman, John Woods, one reason why prisoners are returning is because they simply do not get the outside support so crucial to their rehabilitation.
John Woods, Chairman, Kolbe Foundation
“You know you treat somebody like he’s an animal and he will be an animal. You teat him like he is that unique, special individual, that we all are, and they respond in kind. We have seen so many miracles out here in that.”
According to Woods except for a limited few, most of their inmates will one day return to society and it is their challenge to provide programmes that will help make the return a success. But he admits that it will also take community support to make it work. The Kolbe Foundation is hoping that a twelve minute documentary will help to change people’s attitudes. The video, produced by a New Zealand television crew, focuses on rehab efforts like the one that affected thirty year old David White, a recovering crack addict serving time.
David [Kolbe Video]
“To be very honest with you, I just came to I.F.F.B. to get away from Supermax. I came playing games; I didn’t realise that my submission allowed God to start moulding me.”
The eighteen month rehabilitation programme is structured and based on Christian teachings. The inmates also receive educational classes to help them get a job once they have served their time.
John Woods
“We don’t care if somebody joins a programme or whether he is all that sincere or whether he has found Jesus or not. Most of them that get into a programme are just trying to survive. That’s their coping strategy, but when they get into a programme and find out they get in a con and end up conning themselves because they find out that there is a different and a better way to live.”
Woods says he is aware that not everyone supports their work, but the Kolbe Foundation has made tremendous achievements since they took over the prison’s management five years ago.
John Woods
“Because of the criminal element people have to live behind bars. They have to be scared! They’re scared for their kids, they don’t want to buy a bike for their kid because he’s gonna get mugged and have the bike stolen from him. Yes, I understand the feeling, very, very well. I am human too and want to react you know, but I know this other way works.”
“Mein we say that prayer all time, forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. The people that want revenge, they want justification in everything, that’s kind of a weight on them. When they can forgive then they start growing.”
So far David White remains on the right track as he learns what it will take for him to stay away from drugs and out of trouble. Today, he looks forward to that day when he will be reunited with his loved ones.
Shantay, David’s Daughter [Kolbe Video]
“I don’t want him to get into any more trouble; I want him to stay out here and look for a way for me.”
David [Kolbe Video]
“Shantay definitely is my key to success. She is my little women. She’s my little princess, you know. I need to be that dad that she deserves in her life. She doesn’t deserve that crackhead, she doesn’t deserve that criminal, she doesn’t deserve to come to prison and see her dad behind bars all the time.”
Recently, the international group Prison Fellowship, which works in institutions located in one hundred and thirty-four countries, recognised Belize as a leader of excellence in prison reform.
