THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1974.
AFTER-CARE AND WELFARE IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS
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THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR. THOMAS GARNER, HAS *EMPHASISED THE SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE OF AFTER-CARE
AND WELFARE IN VIEW OF THE GROWING POPULATION IN PENAL
INSTITUTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE YOUNGER AGE GROUP.
IN HIS LATEST DEPARTMENTAL REPORT, HE SAYS THAT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING DEMAND IN THE FIELD OF AFTER-CARE A CHIEF OFFICER WAS APPOINTED LAST NOVEMBER FOR THE JOB.
THE OFFICER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ORGANISATION, CO-ORDINATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF ALL AFTER-CARE AND WELFARE WORK WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
MR. GARNER ALSO MAKES THE POINT THAT AFTER-CARE COMMENCES ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AN INMATE IS ADMITTED TO A TRAINING, DETENTION OR TREATMENT CENTRE WHEN STEPS ARE TAKEN TO BUILD UP A GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INMATE, HIS FAMILY AND THE AFTER-CARE OFFICER. +THIS REQUIRES UNDERSTANDING AND INVOLVES COUNSELLING WITH, BOTH THE INMATE, AND HIS FAMILY.+
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IN ADDITION TO THESE DUTIES, OFFICERS ARE ALSO EMPLOYED *ON CASEWORK IN CONNECTION WITH PRE-SENTENCE REPORTS, INMATE
WELFARE, AND SUPERVISION. ASSISTING THE CHIEF OFFICER IN HIS WORK ARE TWO PRINCIPAL OFFICERS, 39 OFFICERS AND FOUR ASSISTANT OFFICERS.
UNDER
THE COMMISSIONER SAYS: +DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGE *STRENGTH BY 29 OFFICERS AFTER-CARE OFFICERS, WERE CONSTANTLY
WORKING UNDER PRESSURE. AT THE END OF MARCH THIS YEAR, THE AVERAGE CASELOAD CARRIED BY AN OFFICER WAS 76 AS COMPARED WITH THE OPTIMUM NUMBER OF 40. IN RECOGNITION OF THE NEED TO EXTEND WELFARE SERVICES TO COVER PRISONERS 17 OFFICER POSTS WERE CREATED FOR THIS PURPOSE DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW.+
ON PRISON INDUSTRIES, MR. GARNER NOTES THAT THE TOTAL OUTPUT (IN ESTIMATED COMMERCIAL VALUE) BY THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR WAS $8.5 MILLION, SOME $500,000 ABOVE "THAT FOR 1972/73.
HE SAYS THAT EVERY PRISONER WAS REQUIRED, BY LAW, TO BE ENGAGED ON USEFUL WORK, UNLESS EXCUSED ON MEDICAL GROUNDS AND PROVIDED THAT HE HAD BEEN CERTIFIED FIT TO UNDERTAKE THE 'PARTICULAR TYPE OF WORK INVOLVED.
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/+THIS REQUIREMENT