INFORMATION ABOUT THE REFORMATORY IN TRZEMESZNO

 

The reformatory in Trzemeszno is under increased supervision for juvenile delinquents removed from other reformatories and they are 16 years old but in exceptional situations even admitted at 15. They can stay here until they are 21.

 

THE WORK IN REFORMATORY BASED ON:

1. the bill of the constitution regarding legal with delinquents,
2. the decree of the Minister of Justice,
3. other decrees of the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Edukation.

 

The rehabilitation of delinquents in the reformatory under increased supervision involves:

1. planning individual educational programs:
    - educational activities (classes),
    - corrective and therapeutic activities. These vital activities are held when delinquents have temporary contact with the group, 

2. establishing the order for individual groups, school classes, work groups also conditions of temporary contacts with other delinquents. 

The general education and classes at vocational school as well as activities in their free time are held in the reformatory. Some outside activities under the direct and permanent surveillance of tutors (and pedagogical) workers can be organized in circumstances for delinquents who demonstrate positive social behavior.

The reformatory stay is to prepare the delinquents for a social and independent life.
There are 24 delinquents in the Trzemeszno reformatory.

They are divided into 5 rehabilitation groups.

The process of rehabilitation

I. Dormitory – the group of 4-6 delinquents. The rehabilitation in this section is held on the basis of educational, protective and molded functions.
II. School – the process of education is taught on three levels:

• primary school 
• secondary school 
• vocational school 

There are 4-6 students in each class.

III. Practical education in the vocational school

There are 2-3 students in the group. They are taught carpentry, masonry (bricklaying), locksmithing (ironwork, metal-work)

 

Administration

The Director – heads the whole reformatory
The Vice-Director (the headmaster) heads the schools.
The diagnostic and corrective group (2 psychologists an 1 educator) take care of each delinquent from the beginning of his stay to his release. This group takes care of his mental, legal, formal and therapeutic needs.

 

Caretakers:

• Tutors, 

• Teachers, 

• Professional teachers, 

• A doctor (surgery), a dentist and a nurse, 

• Warders (guards), 

• Administration, 

• The staff: tailor, cleaning lady and attendant. 

When the delinquents are taken into the reformatory they have to stay 14 days in a transit room, where they are individually prepared for their rehabilitation plans.

 

The reformatory ensures respect for a delinquent's:

1. dignity 

2. security from physical, psychological and any other forms of evidence,  

3. having access to information about: 

• the rules of the reformatory,

• the system of rewards and punishments, 

• offers of the rehabilitation 

4. information about the process of the rehabilitation, 

5. food which is needed for his physical development, 

6. clothes, underclothes, shoes, textbooks, workbooks, notebooks, school equipment (ballpens, pencils etc.), cleaning items, 

7. having access to the health services and recovery, 

8. protecting a family relationship, 

9. posting and delivering letters with some limitations which are established by law and by the rules of the rehabilitation system, 

10. having a chance to contact their defender or proxy in the area of the reformatory privately, 

11. protection and psychological help, 

12. having a chance to submit letters of requests and complaints, 

13. receiving some packet money for his expenses from the financial resources of the reformatory, (The level of pocket money for the delinquent is established by the rules of making up and paying. The delinquent should pass the money to a deposit of the reformatory), 

14. having a chance to receiving money from people, institutions or organizations, 

15. receiving food packages with clothes, books and other things needed for personal usage except things which are contrary to the regulations, 

16. getting rewards from following regulations, 

17. conditions to develop positive interests by attending activities, 

18. taking part in activities of a delinquent council based on the regulations on the “Youth Reformatory Council”, 

19. having a chance to attend religious practices, 

20. applying (in justified cases):

• to stay of execution in the reformatory, 

• to have a holiday (a few days), 

• to move to another reformatory (on principles established in the regulations of the reformatory). 

The delinquent, during his staying in the reformatory, should:

1. obey the rules and schedule of the reformatory, 

2. obey the regulations of security and inform the superiors about a danger to people, order, health, environment or property, 

3. attend on a process of rehabilitation, 

4. carry out orders of his superiors, 

5. treat other delinquents and other people with respect for their dignity, 

6. maintain a high standard of a personal hygiene and health, 

7. maintain a neat appearance and language, 

8. maintain cleanliness in each place and rooms, 

9. deposit things contrary to the regulations (documents and other valuables), 

10. maintain tidiness in the reformatory, 

11. get assent for a temporary leave from the reformatory, 

12. return from a holiday or a pass at the time established by the director of the reformatory. 

Leaving the transit room, the delinquent executes duties which are obligatory in the system of rehabilitation. The rules of this system are an integral part of the Regulations of the Reformatory in the further work of rehabilitation.

 

The main aim of rehabilitation is to prepare a delinquent for a social life and an independent life.

 

Delinquents are subjected to the awarding of points (0-3) in each section of the work according to the following rules:

• discipline, 

• the attitude to duties and school work, 

• activity in community work for the reformatory, 

• friendship, 

• cleanliness, respecting the health and safety-at-work and in the case of the fire, 

• beautiful and plain language, 

• to take care of the reformatory property, 

• personal interests (hobby), 

• the attitude towards the elderly and superiors, 

• the behavior outside the reformatory. 

The delinquents assessment in each criterion is totaled in all upbringing sections (at dormitory, at school, at work) once a week.

The collected points are recorded in their files. The average of the assessment after 10 weeks is the base for determining the suitable level of rehabilitation.

 

There are 5 levels of rehabilitation.

The 1stlevel – the lowest

The 5thlevel – the highest

There are rewards and privileges at each. Higher levels gain more privileges.

The Director can reward the delinquents for:

• suitable behavior and good conduct, 

• carrying out duties very well, 

• respecting regulations of the reformatory, 

• achieving remarkable progress in the process of education. 

Rewarding has un upbringing and motivating feature. Delinquents can be rewarded by every worker of the reformatory when they are under his or her surveillance.

The decision about rewarding is put into the delinquents files and recorded in the reformatory's rewarding register.

Rewards include:

1. praise, 

2. praise in front of delinquents, 

3. citation to parents or protectors, 

4. citation to the court, 

5. 5.permission for a free call, 

6. a decision to give money or things to delinquents as a from of a reward, 

7. increasing delinquents' pocket money (the sum of money depends on their level of rehabilitation), 

8. permission for making something in the school workshop for delinquents' needs or for other people close to them, 

9. permission for taking part in celebrating holidays, educational and aports activities and training courses outside the reformatory, 

10. shorten, suspend or pardon the punishment, 

11. giving the pass for 3 days after the 5th month in the reformatory, 

12. giving 21 days off a year after the 6th month in the reformatory and reaching a suitable level of rehabilitation, 

13. application to put a delinquent outside the reformatory, 

14. to place a delinquent outside the reformatory, 

15. making a proposal to be released on parole. 

The director can use appropriate (disciplinary) means in the following situations:

• breaking regulations in the reformatory, 

• not carry out duties, 

• disgusting and mean behavior toward other people. 

Disciplinary means:

1. rebuke, 

2. rebuke in front of delinquents, 

3. official rebuke, 

4. informing parents or protectors about reprehensible behavior, 

5. informing the court about reprehensible behavior, 

6. the lack of permission for taking part in celebrations holiday educational and sport activities and training courses outside the reformatory for 4 months, 

7. decrease of pocket money for 4 months, 

8. the lack of activities and training courses outside the reformatory for 4 months, 

9. withholding the days off or passes for 4 months, 

10. displacing a delinquent in another reformatory with the same conditions, 

11. withholding to place a delinquent outside the reformatory, 

12. withholding to make a proposal to be released on parole. 

Before using discipline, the director of reformatory or worker (educator) appointed by the director should listen to a delinquent's self-defense and ask the diagnostic – corrective panel for a ruling.

 

In justified cases, the director can abandon the disciplinary means suspend it for another one, or abandon the punishment in the case where the delinquent apologizes to an offended person.

 

The decision to use the disciplinary means for a delinquent is recorded and announced to all delinquents. The decision is put into the delinquent's file. In case of a danger to a delinquent's life or health, or an attempt to destroy property by the delinquent the preventive means can be used.

 

The preventive means:

1. an isolation ward, 

2. usage of other direct, forced compulsion (physical strength, straitjacket, or paralyzing belt), 

3. placement in a special group with psychotherapeutic care. 

In case serious disorganization to the process of education or other activities, inducing other delinquents to disobedience, or destroying property, he can be separated from the others and put in a separate room.

 

According to the necessity of treatment, educational continuation or important family matters (the death of a member of a family etc.), the delinquent can stay temporarily outside the reformatory. During his stay outside the reformatory he is controlled by the workers of the reformatory and a warden.

 

Release from the reformatory can be in two cases:

1. Release on parole adjudicated by the court, 

2. By law when the delinquent is twenty-one. 

 

Przetłumaczył: Ryszard Walter