On September 1, 2021, the piloting of rehabilitation programme for adult prisoners "Problem Solving" was completed in Naderzhynshchynska Correctional Colony #65 and started in Poltava Correctional Colony #64 with the support of the Joint Project “European Union and Council of Europe working together to support the Prison Reform in Ukraine” (SPERU).
The programme is designed to help prisoners develop life-saving problem-solving skills to prevent misconduct and encourage prosocial thinking.
The event was attended by Natalia Rybalko, Deputy Head of the Department for Execution of Criminal Sanctions, Valeriy Kalivoshko, Head of the Department of Resocialization and Social Rehabilitation of the Department for Execution of Criminal Sanctions, Olga Derkach, senior officer of the Joint Project “European Union and Council of Europe working together to support the Prison Reform in Ukraine” (SPERU)".
Programs to overcome the criminogenic needs of convicts are now becoming commonplace around the world. Ukraine has also not escaped these processes, and similar programs are beginning to be implemented in penitentiary institutions.
Other countries experience has shown that the impact of such programs benefits the community to which released persons return after serving their sentences and, consequently, society as a whole by ensuring their safety, reducing recidivism and, consequently, the costs of keeping convicts in penitentiaries.
It is important to note that the piloting of the rehabilitation program was conducted separately for men and women. After all, when implementing this program, it is important to take into account the significant differences in the needs between convicted women and men.
Convicted women are more likely to have health problems than convicted men as well as mental health problems, and in some countries almost 40% of convicted women attempt suicide. In the process of interaction with women, professionals should be aware of the significant impact of psychological, economic, physical and sexual violence suffered by most convicted women.
Olga Derkach during her speech encouraged participants to share their feedback, suggestions and comments on the rehabilitation program. After all, based on the feedbacks, the programme will be refined and adapted to the needs of convicts and only then implemented in the training system.
Based on the training results, the SPERU Project will finalise the Methodological Handbook for the Problem Solving Program and present it to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.
The EU and Council of Europe Joint Project “Support to Prison Reform in Ukraine – SPERU” is designed to promote human rights compliant management of prisons, including better alignment of prison healthcare provisions with European standards.
