PREPARATION FOR RELEASE AND POST-RELEASE SUPPORT As women prisoners are less likely to have been in mainstream employment and more likely to have been financially dependent on male relatives, they are also likely to benefit particularly from jobs skills training, financial management and support with securing housing. Whilst rehabilitation programmes should be integrated throughout the term of imprisonment, the weeks immediately before and after release from prison can be particularly important in determining whether rehabilitation will be successful. Prisoners should be provided with practical information to help them prepare for release, including information about local public transportation and support services available in the community. Women prisoners should have the opportunity to discuss life after prison, including their fears, expectations and any specific support services they may need. As they are usually the main caregivers in families, women will benefit from extra contact with their family as their release date approaches, including pre-release home leave schemes. Such schemes help boost self-confidence and allow women to reconnect with their families, including their children. Temporary release schemes also allow prisoners to put some practical measures in place in preparation for leaving prison, including the possibility of contacting prospective employers, getting on-the-job training and finding accommodation. If temporary home release is not possible, authorities can also increase a prisoner’s contact with family by allowing them extra visits and phone and/or Skype calls. Some prisons offer family visiting spaces where a prisoner’s family members can stay with them overnight. PROMISING PRACTICE: Video calls in Thailand In October 2018, the Department of Corrections of Thailand initiated an alternative means of communication with family via mobile phone video calls. This was initially piloted in five pilot prisons and is now in place in most institutions in the country. Family members are allowed one call a month to pre-release prisoners with less than one year to serve. It greatly benefits female prisoners, especially those who are imprisoned far away from home and who have young children. The project also reduces the burden on families who do not have the time and money to visit in person. PROMISING PRACTICE: Community engagement in Singapore The Yellow Ribbon Project in Singapore96 is based on the premise that prisoner rehabilitation requires broader community engagement. The project seeks to engage the community to help former prisoners find employment and housing, learn new skills and feel welcomed. The project aims to generate greater awareness of the need for second chances and inspire more people to accept former prisoners into their lives. The project is spearheaded by the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders (CARE) Network, which involves public, private and non-governmental bodies working together to ensure seamless care between prisons and communities and to develop innovative rehabilitative initiatives. The project features regular job fairs, during which prisoners can meet with potential employers and undertake job interviews. Ahead of the fair, prisoners are provided with training on basic interview techniques and resume writing skills and are given an update on the availability of career opportunities. Prisoners who secure employment during the job fair are also provided with post-release support, including financial assistance, accommodation and counselling. For rehabilitation to be successful, it is equally important that families and communities are well prepared for the release of prisoners. This applies to all prisoners but can be particularly helpful for women due to the stigma they face, the additional barriers they encounter upon release, and their roles as mothers. Penal Reform International and Thailand Institute of Justice | Guide to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of women prisoners | 37