Women convicts who have substance abuse problems as mothers

Transcription

1 Rikosseuraamuslaitos Brottspåföljdsmyndigheten Stiftelsen för Kriminalvårdens Främjande Criminal Sanctions Agency Women convicts who have substance abuse problems as mothers Project Social Worker Erja Pietilä Probation Foundation / Vanaja Prison

2 Life is a journey. Women who start to use alcohol and other intoxicants, who become mothers, who become prisoners, who become free citizens again

3 Prisoner Suvi Suvi is in prison for the first time. Her sentence is 2 years and 3 months, the crime is drug offence. Suvi started her sentence in a closed prison, and now she is in an open prison. Suvi is 32 years old. She has finished basic school, and she has started some professional training, she has not finished that. Suvi has two children who are 7 and 10 years of age. These children live in a foster family. Suvi has lots of debts, and she has substance abuse problems (alcohol, amphetamine, sedatives). Suvi hopes that she will be able to go to supervised probationary freedom, six months before release. She needs to find a home for herself, and she hopes to spend weekends with her children then there in the new home. She needs to find a job, too, and she will start to have regular meetings at a substance abuse clinic. Suvi willl also meet her future probation officer during her supervised probationary freedom

4 Probation Foundation A nationwide non-governmental after-care organisation The purpose of Krits is to improve the deprived status and living conditions of released prisoners and clients of community sanctions and their families. Krits develops after-care and improves services, influences criminal policy, promotes the interests of its target group and supports voluntary work. Staff: 30 persons, executive manager: Jukka Mäki

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6 Vanaja prison Vanaja department Ojoinen department 50 places + 10 places in family unit 53 places A prisoner follows her / his sentence plan and participates in health care work in or outside of prison study in or outside of prison rehabilitation courses and programmes individual councelling leisure time activities in and outside of prison supervised and unsupervised family meetings, family camps prison leaves supervised probationary freedom family unit Women s Turn project of Romano Mission (project worker Tuula Nyman) Staff: 33, two project workers, manager: Kaisa Tammi-Moilanen

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8 Family unit in prison in Finland child welfare unit, began its operation in spring 2010 divided across two prisons: unit of Vanaja prison and of Hämeenlinna prison places for imprisoned parents with their children: Vanaja 10 + Hämeenlinna 3 (remand prisoners) employees: 8 The service is provided by an association, Family work of Kanta- Häme (Kanta-Hämeen Perhetyö ry), and guided and coordinated by national institute for health and welfare (Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos) a child less than 2 years of age can enter the family unit, and a child can stay in the unit till the age of 3 when this is seen to fulfill the best interest of the child by child welfare service

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10 Life is a story. Women in prison tell stories of - social relations - motherhood - dometic violence - intoxicant abuse - survival

11 Life is choices. A woman in prison makes choices for herself, and for her family, for her children. Life in an open prison means more freedom of choices than in a closed prison. - living free of intoxicants - personal well-being - contacts with outside world, with family - release preparations

12 From prison to freedom The first 15 minutes up to the first two hours are crucial, during those moments I decide what I do and what company I choose, whether I return to my old life or I start a new sober life. You should have a place to live and an environment without any intoxicants after prison. It is the people around you who make the point even if you would not have a home at all. I have a lot at stake, my children are waiting for me, and I need to show everybody my skills, and I need to be trustworthy

13 Preconditions for female prisoners survival Women s own wants, abilities and readiness for action Structures and resources in prison Structures and resources in close community and in the overall society

14 Vision A woman experiences empowerment during her imprisonment, and she goes for something new; she does not return to the old life of hers