3/12/2010 10:22:00 AM Community urged to support ex-prisoners
* Photo by Sirkka Huish. Helping hands: Yvette Brown, a social worker for the corrections department, and teen Jasmine Caisey, a volunteer at Westgate, are urging islanders to help former inmates reintegrate themselves into society to prevent them returning to crime.
Westgate inmates survey
Fifty-three inmates answered questions for the Department of Corrections.
Former prisoners need to feel wanted by the local community to prevent them heading straight back to Westgate.
This is the aim of staff at the prison, who are doing all they can to ensure inmates are reintegrated into society after release.
They fear former prisoners will simply return to their old criminal ways if they do not have somewhere to live or something constructive to do with their time.
This is why inmates were given the chance to find out about housing, employment, financial assistance and education at this week's community reintegration fair.
Yvette Brown, a social worker for the corrections department, organised the Bridging The Gap event to help make inmates "responsible and productive citizens".
The fourth annual event on Wednesday morning attracted up to about 80 inmates and representatives from about 20 organisations.
Purpose
Ms Brown said: "Inmates possess the ability to change. If we didn't think that we may as well close the doors of Westgate as that is what we are here for.
"Inmates are not going to stay with us forever, these are individuals who need to be reintegrated into the community. They need to feel wanted and feel like they have a purpose in life.
"We don't want to see them at Westgate again."
Many of the inmates who "took advantage" of the community reintegration fair have just six months to a year of their sentences left.
Ms Brown works closely with inmates to help them find employment or further their education after release.
Some of their backgrounds are "horrific" as they considered "using drugs" as a full-time job.
Ms Brown does not "have a magic wand to change things" but she works hard to change inmates' attitudes towards work.
She added: "It's easier to bring people into Westgate to see all the inmates than trying to make individual appointments. It gives inmates the opportunity to work and to apply for jobs, seek financial assistance or further their education.
"They don't realise it but there are so many opportunities out there available to them.
"The inmates were asking if they were skilled to do certain jobs, what would make employers hire them, what makes a good employee and what skills they need to move forward.
"Some companies found people they would be happy to employ and took names."
Ms Brown said that in Bermuda, there is no stigma attached to employing those who had served time "like there would be in many other countries".
Several employers even visit Westgate to conduct job interviews with inmates who are still serving their sentences.
Ms Brown said: "We try to ensure that as many inmates as possible leave us with jobs already lined up.
"Some men have their own contacts, while others rely on our assistance. We help whoever wants the help. We've found Bermuda's employers are very cordial.
"They appreciate our frankness and concern about inmates and are always willing to listen and assist.
"The inmates are ready and raring to get out there in the community, they just need a little assistance in doing so."
Organisations represented at the community reintegration fair included Bermuda Gas, D&J Construction, the M.E.F. Group, the Hustle Truck, Turning Point and Community Education.
Government departments such as Courts Services and Financial Assistance were also represented.
Courses
Bermuda College recruitment office Cha'Von Clarke said inmates had expressed an interest in obtaining their GEDs, as well as applied science courses.
She added: "We are a community college and our courses are available to everyone. We gave out cards and literature and encouraged them to get in touch."
Staff from the Physical Abuse Centre promoted their Calling All Men anger management programme and 26-week Abuse Free prison programme.
Director Laurie Shiell said the inmates appreciated the way they were trying to change people's ways.
She added: "They asked about what was normal behaviour and how to control their tempers. We're glad to have been able to help."
Kenlyn Butterfield represented The Salvation Army's Dreaming In Colour programme for the second year in a row.
She said: "This can benefit inmates. We told them what we offer and encouraged them to come along and join in."
