IT in a prison

Since November 2011,  IAN  has been conducting computer courses for inmates in the women's prison of Serbia, in Pozarevac. The initiative for providing this training came from the Head of the women's prison, who recognized the importance of educating and professionally empowering the women inmates in order to prepare them for leaving prison at the end of their sentences and it is supported by the International Women's Club .
Classes are held twice a week.  At the conclusion of each module, participants take a test and upon successfully passing all exams they obtain a certificate. IAN's IT teacher Petar Jakovljevic instructs the inmates. He reports:  “The women are rather motivated and go through the curricula and the foreseen tasks even quicker than the average groups in IAN Telecentar” . Why do ICT courses matter?

Often they do not receive any assistance from the state regarding employment or resolving other difficulties that hinder their inclusion into mainstream society.

Programs of preparation of offenders for their release from prison and their post penal adjustment and rehabilitation are important for their successful reconciliation. Women released from prison are faced with a range of difficulties of financial, social and psychological nature. Being in a penal institution causes braking of their social connections, loss of a job, unresolved accommodation status, etc. They most often do not receive any assistance from the state regarding employment and resolving other difficulties that hinder their inclusion into mainstream society. Experiences from other countries (primarily USA ) show that the return of investment into education and strengthening the capacities of persons who committed criminal offences is multiple through savings on court proceedings not held and prison sentences not served as well as decreasing the rate of recidivism among the offenders.

By equipping them with the IT skills necessary for being successful in today's work environment, IAN Telecentre is contributing in creating more opportunities for women prisoners and is helping them with a successful transition and social inclusion upon their release, thus also preventing re-offending.

For additional information, please contact Ivan Stojilovic,

IAN International Aid Network, Admirala Geprata 10, Belgrade , 011 7617 197

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