Desire of Reintegration of ex-prisoners – A Universal Approach

Abstract

The rehabilitation of the offender and re integration of the offender are two main concepts which the criminal justice system demand of the day. Among the other forms of punishment, imprisonment is the most common punishment in most countries in the world. Rehabilitation of the offender is the main objective of imprisonment and without a successful mechanism for the reintegration of the ex-prisoners it is hard to achieve that main objective; rehabilitation of the prisoners. Failing in achieving the above said objective it is also hard to control the increase of reconvicted and recidivism rate of the offenders. Therefore it is essential to pay the attention on reintegration of the offenders into the society as an integral part of the theory of rehabilitation and after-care service should form as final step of correctional work in order to control the increasing reconvicted/recidivism rate of convicts in a country. This article deals with a discussion on the importance of the concept of reintegration of the offenders along with after care service for the ex-prisoners as a successful mechanism which we may use to reach the above said goal, Sri Lankan situation with regard to after-care service and some successful measures that have been taken by the other countries to facilitate the exprisoners to re start their new life after the release.