Juvenile inmates at Goian Prison benefit from better conditions for vocational training programs aimed at increasing the rate of successful reintegration of ex-detainees into society.

"Here we have more free time and I would like to know a profession after my release," confessed one of the juvenile in detention at the Goian prison.

The newly renovated workshop rooms in the Goian Prison, launched in March, will be used to train future cobblers, cooks, auto fitters/mechanics, and hairdressers, as well as for other occupational therapy activities such as pottery, photography and carpentry.

„The experience has shown that behavioural change programs, which are an important element of the dynamic security concept, generate impactful results and contribute to reducing the risk of reoffending. The focus on interactions with the juvenile inmates and provision of a conducive environment for training and personal development, boosts their self-confidence and self-esteem and helps them better prepare for the life outside the prison”, said Dafina Gercheva, UNDP Resident Representative in Moldova.

Prison staff members were trained by Romanian experts on developing and applying behavioural change programs with particular focus on two techniques: anger management/violence reduction and motivational interviewing. This will help the staff address problems and needs of juvenile inmates in a more tailored manner, while also preparing them for reintegration into society upon release. At the same time, the vocational training infrastructure was improved to ensure the access of young inmates to multi-dimensional participatory training activities.

„Starting from today, juveniles from Goian Prison have access to adequate spaces for vocational training and to renovated workshop rooms designed to improve their professional abilities and skills which are useful in the day-to-day life. These skills will facilitate their future reintegration into society, in particular on the labour market. The Government of Romania stands ready to continue to provide support for the training needs of the employees of the penitentiary as well as for diversification of capacities used to develop professional abilities and skills of the juveniles from Goian”, said Marius Lazurca, Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Moldova at the launch event.

Goian Prison for juveniles is the first prison in Moldova operating on the dynamic security concept, which means that prison staff actively observe and frequently interact with prisoners in order to gain a better understanding and awareness of the inmates and assess the potential risks they could pose.

Currently, 29 juveniles serve their sentences at Goian Prison. In 2014, ten juvenile inmates from Goian Prison qualified as cobblers.

„It should be noted that labour plays an important role in acquiring the skills and competencies useful to children from our institution, including after release. Vocational training programs help them develop personally and socially, so that these young people can take the responsibility for their own lives, to live with dignity, and prevent them from returning to prison. I am very happy that the penitentiary institution has the possibility to provide these young people with a wide range of vocational training activities that will contribute to the proper management of time spent in detention and effective reintegration into society”, said Ana Dabija, Director of the Department of Penitentiary Institutions of the Republic of Moldova.

The Government of Romania provided assistance of US$ 120,744 within the project „Strengthening juvenile prisoners’ vocational training for their re-socialization and employment after their release”, aiming at improving the conditions for the resocialization and reintegration of juvenile inmates by using pro-active intervention methods and occupational therapy.

This project, implemented in the framework of UNDP programme “Support to Justice Sector Reform in Moldova”, focused on strengthening the professional capacities of Goian Prison staff to dynamically interact with the inmates, as well as ensure access to qualitative vocational training to all juveniles in detention.

Highlights

• The workshop rooms in the Goian Prison are used to train cobblers, cooks, auto fitters/mechanics, and hairdressers
• Juveniles in detention also benefit from occupational therapy activities such as pottery, photography and carpentry.
• Goian Prison for juveniles is the first prison in Moldova operating on the dynamic security concept
• Currently, 29 juveniles serve their sentences at Goian Prison
• In 2014, ten juvenile inmates from Goian Prison qualified as cobblers.