The work of prisoners is an essential aspect of re-education and the positive habits for subsequent socialization after release. Many prisons throughout the country make extensive use of the practice of introducing labor into the detention process. It should be noted that this process must necessarily be voluntary; otherwise, forced labor is a violation of human rights and is prohibited by law. The prisoner’s work must be meaningful in terms of creating new passions and changing outlooks on life.
According to the video provided, the inmates were asked to become dog trainers. It has been scientifically proven that interaction with animals has a beneficial effect on the general emotional background (Hatton, 2018). People become kinder and more open to communication and socialization. The respondents’ answers confirm this thesis since they give only positive feedback about the opportunity to work with dogs (CBS, n.d.). In general, a correctional institution’s task is to provide a person with time to realize and accept their own mistakes that have caused harm to society.
Consequently, in work, people in custody can benefit from work activities aimed at something creative. In theory, prisoners can also be busy; however, this approach will not carry a practical purpose. Regarding the provision of vocational training and employment opportunities for prisoners, it is worth looking at the Scandinavian countries’ example: Sweden and Norway. In these states’ prisons, inmates can receive an education while in custody and have the right to work (Smith & Ugelvik, 2017). According to statistics, the percentage of recidivism among prisoners in these countries is the lowest globally, which indicates the effectiveness of these measures. Thus, the opportunity for self-realization gives prisoners more chances to start a new life after the end of their sentence.
References
CBS. (n.d.) An inmates’ best friend [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Hatton, E. (2018). When work is punishment: Penal subjectivities in punitive labor regimes. Punishment & Society, 20(2), 174-191. Web.
Smith, P. S., & Ugelvik, T. (Eds.). (2017). Scandinavian penal history, culture and prison practice: embraced by the welfare state? Springer.