INFORMAL MENTORING IN PENITENTIARIES – A SOLUTION TO INCREASE THE CHANCES OF POSTDETENTION REINTEGRATION

Re-entering society after incarceration is riddled with challenges. Those with a criminal history face many barriers to receive public support. Many are suffering with mental or physical illnesses with limited means of getting adequate treatment, many of them have special needs, they don't have qualifications, job, home after release, no family support, etc. All of these issues are in addition to problems borne out of the societal stigma associated with serving time in prison. According to National Penitentiary Administration in Romania, over 10.551 inmates was released from prison in 2018 and begin the reintegration process into their communities. Penitentiary aims are to reduce future crime by changing the behavior, attitudes or skills of the offender by responsibilities prisoners in their own reintegration process, and also raise the public opinion awareness to prevent social exclusion. The annual cost of re-offending is extremely high in all EU member states. Re-offending rates are highest amongst those sentenced for less than one year. Mentoring in prisons could have a positive impact. Also, it can be a bridge between the penitentiary and the society. Mentoring is a two-way process being of benefit; it gives the mentor the extraordinary opportunity to facilitate a mentee's personal and indeed professional growth by sharing knowledge they have learned through years of experience. While the primary intent of the mentoring role is to challenge the mentee to think in new and different ways, the mentee is not the only one who gains from the arrangement. There are various ways a mentor can benefit as well.