More transit houses for women needed

KAJANG: The Prison Department requires more transit houses specifically to house female ex-convicts as they reintegrate into society, it Deputy Commissioner General (community) Datuk Ibrisam Abdul Rahman said today. Speaking when officiating the “Youturn Day: Welcoming Prisoners Back to the Society” programme by The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and Malaysian Care at the Kajang Prison today, Ibrisam said there were currenty 15 transit houses which all housed male residents, parolees (Orang DiParol or ODP) or those on licence (OBB).

“Hence, we hope to cooperate with more non-government organisations (NGOs) to run the transit houses and support from the community as well,” he said.

During his speech, Ibrisam spoke on the department on the moves to focus on probation and community correction.

In addition to enhancing the efficiency of rehabilitation, alternative charges and punishments adopted by the courts will also serve to lessen prison overcrowding.

“At this time, overcrowding in jails exceeds 10 per cent of the overall capacity, while 15 per cent of those who are released into the community without any form of rehabilitation go back to prison within three years. However, only 0.4 per cent of people who use the parole system go back to jail. Spending can be decreased by rehabilitating offenders in the community rather than locking them up,” he said.