Former prisoners have recounted the difficulties they face rebuilding their lives after serving prison sentences, citing broken marriages, family rejection, unemployment and social stigma.
The accounts were shared at the maiden National Ex-Convicts Reintegration Conference organised by the Crime Check Foundation.
The Foundation is advocating a shift in how society treats people released from prison, urging the public to recognise them as returning citizens rather than continue labelling them ex-convicts.
Some participants said their prison records had cost them their marriages and strained relationships with family members, while others struggled to secure employment and accommodation despite efforts to turn their lives around.
One former prisoner recounted how his wife left him because of his prison history, leaving him struggling to provide for himself and his children.
He said he currently has no stable accommodation and is sometimes forced to seek shelter in a slum.
He added that many others who had served their sentences continued to face rejection from their spouses, families and society.
The former prisoner argued that while inmates were encouraged to reform during their time in prison, they often received little support when they returned to their communities.
Another participant highlighted the financial difficulties facing returning prisoners, saying some leave prison with debts and other obligations but have no reliable source of income to settle them.
He warned that the inability to meet these financial commitments could expose some former prisoners to further difficulties.
The participants are therefore calling for greater public acceptance and support systems to help returning citizens rebuild their lives and reduce the risk of reoffending.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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