Labor Ministry strikes deal to provide financial assistance for ex-convicts

The Labor Ministry has signed an agreement with the Polish Penitentiaries authorities to help ex-prisoners reintegrate into society and prevent them from re-offending. Under the agreement, the Ministry will help them find accommodations and jobs, the lack of which are considered by psychologists to be the most important factors influencing the behavior of repeat offenders. The Ministry will provide transportation home and zl. 622, when ex-convicts are released from prison. They will also take care of unemployed ex-convicts by granting them unemployment benefits. If ex-prisoners are in danger of eviction, they could qualify for a one time grant of zl. 500 to pay back rent. "Most of them have nothing when they leave prison. Their families will not accept them. They have no job. In such a situation they are more prone to become repeat offenders," said one penitentiary director. (Zycie, page 4)