President establishes new office to undertake program to integrate convicts back into society

President Mohamed Nasheed has today formed a new office with the mandate of undertaking the program to bring back pardoned convicts back into the society. The new office, by the name of “Second Chance Program Office” would be responsible for the implementation of President Nasheed’s special program to integrate about 400 convicted criminals serving sentences back into the society after they were pardoned by the President.

According to the President’s Office, the new office was created under the authority conferred upon the President by Article 116 of the Constitution. The new office shall be under the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services, which is in turn under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Second Chance Program Office would undertake all tasks involved in enrolling pardoned convicts at the National Service Program and various life-skill training courses organized and conducted for them. The office shall monitor the pardoned convicts’ performance in these courses and their integration into the society.

Second Chance Program Office shall also make arrangements for those who complete the said programs to be employed at government and private companies and projects. The Office shall also continue to monitor their work performances during the period of three years set by the government. Furthermore, the same Office shall also oversee the pardoned convicts’ performance in special courses conducted to teach them basic religious education, and the rehabilitation programs conducted for those of them who had been sentenced for drug abuse.

The Second Chance Program Office shall appoint mentors who would personally monitor and assess the performance of released convicts in participating special rehabilitative, educational and vocational training programs and courses and also their performance in employment.

Some 400 convicted criminals have been pardoned by the President on the occasion of Independence Day this year, and they are released on condition that they should keep an untarnished record of law-abiding civil life for a period of three years. If any of the released person defaults during the period, they would be sent back to prison to complete the original sentences, and if they complete the period without blemish, their pardon would be complete. The government has promised that all released convicts shall be provided with lodging if necessary, and that they will all be provided with job opportunities in government projects and companies, and if possible, with private employers as well.

The Second Chance Program Office has also been given the power to decide if any released convict has failed to fulfill the conditions of pardon and needs to be sent back for completion of sentence.