SOCIAL ADAPTATION OF PERSONS, WHO ARE RELEASED FROM THE PLACES OF DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY

Abstract

The article deals with the problems of social adaptation of the offenders re- leased from the penitentiary establishments in order they are ready to the living con- ditions in the civil society. The directions of the corresponding activities and the offi- cials, who work with such persons, have been determined. The basic principles of the state policy concerning social rehabilitation of former inmates have been indicated.

The necessity and importance of social adaptation of such persons has been re- vealed. The reason is that in the process of serving the sentence related to the impris- onment certain changes occur in the personality of inmates. There are different objec- tive and subjective factors, which cause deformation of the convicts’ skills related to the socially adequate behaviour. It complicates their successful resocialisation.

It has been revealed that the convicts’ personal qualities and features of the behavior that were formed during the process of serving their sentences do not contribute to the rehabilitation and strengthening of the positive social ties. That is why it is difficult for them to resolve successfully the vital problems related to the employment and accommodation at the first stage after their release. On the other hand, the problem of adaptation of the released persons to the new conditions is caused by the negative attitude to them of other people. So, the social environment does not contribute to their resocialization.

It has been cleared up that the corresponding activities of the enterprises, of various forms of property, state bodies, agencies and institutions, as well as the public and religious organizations are envisaged by different laws of Ukraine as an integral part of the State Programme on Combating Crime. The State should not only control the behavior of the released persons, but should also provide them with the psychological, legal, financial and material assistance. It is necessary to create proper conditions for their resocialization and social rehabilitation.

The awareness level raising is necessary for the process of social rehabilita- tion, which is a very important element of the state policy in that sphere. It has been proved that the information support, namely raising the level of awareness, as well as the corresponding educational activities among inmates and the released per- sons, are are the topical issues of of providing them with the state and NGOs’ sup- port and assistance.