Barriers to successful rehabilitation Both male and female prisoners face barriers to successful rehabilitation and social reintegration. Some of these barriers are institutional; others relate to individual circumstances. There is often a lack of political will and budget allocation for rehabilitation programmes, and prisons are sometimes poorly equipped and lack the human and financial resources to deliver sustainable projects. In many institutions, opportunities for education and training are limited. Teaching in prisons is often reported to be inconsistent and of poor quality.15 In some countries the only programmes available are those offered by NGOs, which are often short-lived due to funding limitations. In some prisons, security reasons are used to restrict access to education and training opportunities, including limiting access to libraries, training rooms and computers. The prison environment itself – often violent and isolating – can run counter to rehabilitative principles. For all prisoners, the experience inside prison is an important determinant of potential rehabilitation. This includes conditions of detention as well as treatment by guards and other prisoners. Separation of prisoners from families and communities and the potential loss of family, employment and homes are experienced by most prisoners, and these factors are also likely to negatively impact their future rehabilitation. Rehabilitation programmes are unlikely to succeed if authorities are unable to guarantee the fundamental rights of prisoners, such as providing a safe and secure environment, decent living conditions, nutritious food, safe water, good healthcare and regular contact with family and friends. Successful rehabilitation is also difficult to achieve in the absence of effective systems for proper allocation, classification and categorisation of prisoners. Prison overcrowding is one of the main impediments to developing prison-based rehabilitation programmes. Overcrowded facilities struggle to provide for the basic needs of prisoners. Many are chronically under-resourced and staff work in harsh conditions with little or no training. Under these circumstances, prison administrations prioritise basic prison management and the prevention of violence, often at the expense of rehabilitation. Overly punitive approaches to imprisonment hinder rehabilitation efforts. The frequent use of harsh disciplinary measures, such as solitary confinement, frequent lockdowns and transfers, can severely disrupt progress towards rehabilitation, as can the withdrawal of educational privileges as a punitive measure. Prisoners classified as high security are often excluded from rehabilitation opportunities. Life in prison is often not conducive to training and learning, with prisoners reporting difficulties concentrating16 and a lack of support and encouragement from prison staff. The presence of alcohol, drugs and gang violence inside prisons can also severely disrupt prisoner rehabilitation. Whilst prisons in lower-income countries face significant additional challenges in implementing rehabilitation programmes, there are successful programmes in even the most difficult situations. In addition, facilities that prioritise rehabilitation are easier to manage and cheaper to run in the long term. In addition to physical conditions of detention, prisoners face a range of barriers to successful rehabilitation that relate to their individual circumstances and personal histories. This might include health issues, drug and alcohol dependency and histories of abuse. Successful rehabilitation is therefore contingent on the delivery of programmes and services that tackle these underlying issues. 08 | Penal Reform International and Thailand Institute of Justice | Guide to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of women prisoners