PARTICIPANTS’ PAPERSEFFECTIVE SUPPORT FOR REINTEGRATION OF
RELEASED INMATES
Altantogos Mandala*

In theory, “external factors of society, such as economic difficulties, inequality, social persecution, andinhumanity in human relations, form the basis for some individuals to commit crimes that result in feelingsof guilt, such as assault, withdrawing from society, and becoming violent”. Therefore, it is agreed that thetransition from external social factors to internal subject matter is carried out in harmony with social
psychology.

I. INTRODUCTION
As a prison institution, socialization work has been implemented step by step to achieve the objectives ofcriminal punishment, reintegrating individuals who have committed crimes back into society, and offering
psychological rehabilitation and support via social work services. This process commenced in 2004, when aprofessional social worker was designated for the first time. Subsequently, several key milestones havemarked the development of these efforts: in 2009, the comprehensive “Work Program for Convict Socialization”
was introduced, and in 2010, guidelines for educational activities within prisons (the “Instructions for
Educational Work Among Prisoners”) received official approval. Notably, since 2018, the “Methodical
Guidelines for Social Work” have been put into practice, solidifying our commitment to holistic prisoner
reformation.
Although our organization is undertaking the aforementioned tasks and initiatives, unfortunately, it has
been twenty years since the implementation of measures aimed at rehabilitating prisoners; regrettably, thenumber of recidivists has shown no decrease – amounting to a dismal 52.6 per cent of the entire captive
population.

II. CURRENT SITUATION AND PRACTICAL CHALLENGESIN INMATE REINTEGRATION
Socialization essentially occurs through three primary mechanisms. Firstly, it naturally transpires due tothe economic and socio-cultural influences of the society and country in which we reside. Secondly, socialization
takes place within specific environments. In this context, individuals gain experience by addressing challenges
they encounter within the realms of legal, economic and welfare services. This type of socialization occurs
through gradual accumulation. Thirdly, intentional, directed and organized activities are thought to facilitatesocialization, aimed at fostering the development and moulding of individuals.
For Mongolia, in the realm of ex-prisoner reintegration, pertinent laws include but are not limited to: theLaw on Enforcement of Court Decisions, the Law on Promoting Youth Development, the Law on Promoting
Employment, the Law on Social Welfare, the Law on Combating Domestic Violence, the Law on Preventionof Crimes and Offenses, and the Law on Enforcement of Court Decisions. Notably, despite an adequate bodyof legislation governing implementation across various government agencies, such as the Law on Legislation,no legal framework existed to coordinate the interactions between them.
* Senior Inspector of the Guard Service of the Detention Center, Department of Corrections, General Executive Agency of
Court Decision, Mongolia. The author thanks Puntsagsuren Bayarbaatar for contributing to this article.

9Under the scope of the aforementioned legal regulations, prisons and institutions
independently and in collaboration with non-governmental organizations arrange training,measures for behavioural intervention, professional education and work skill development for
prisoners serving their sentences,both within classrooms and online. However, it is indeed a
RESOURCE.MATERIAL.SERIES.No..117
fact that specific outcomes have not shown a notable increase.
Under.the.scope.of.the.aforementioned.legal.regulations,.prisons.and.institutions.independently.and.in.
This is due to the fact that the optimal governmental mechanism for furnishing aid andcollaboration.with.non-governmental.organizations.arrange.training,.measures.for.behavioural.intervention,.
support to citizens who have been released from prisons has not yet been established. As aprofessional. education. and. work. skill. development. for. prisoners. serving. their. sentences,. both. within.
result, this task is currently being undertaken primarily through the initiatives of a limitedclassrooms.and.online..However,.it.is.indeed.a.fact.that.specifi.c.outcomes.have.not.shown.a.notable.increase.

number of non-governmental organizations.

This. is. due. to. the. fact. that. the. optimal. governmental. mechanism. for. furnishing. aid. and. support. to.
In order to find a solution to this problem, we utilized the results of a 2022 survey involving
citizens.who.have.been.released.from.prisons.has.not.yet.been.established..As.a.result,.this.task.is.currently.
being.undertaken.primarily.through.the.initiatives.of.a.limited.number.of.non-governmental.organizations.
1,416 recidivist prisoners. This survey aimed to gather insights into the factors contributing to

reoffending, the outcomes of pre-release preparations and the challenges encountered afterIn.
order.The
to. fi.nd.
a. solution.
to. this.
problem,.
we.
a. 2022. survey.
1,416.
release.
findingsof thissurveyplayeda utilized.
crucial the.
roleresults.
in theof.
developmentof involving.
the releaserecidivist.prisoners..This.survey.aimed.to.gather.insights.into.the.factors.contributing.to.reoff.ending,.the.
preparation programme.
outcomes. of. pre-release. preparations. and. the. challenges. encountered. after. release.. The. fi.ndings. of. this.
survey.played.a.crucial.role.in.the.development.of.the.release.preparation.programme.

As per the survey, when recidivist prisoners were asked about receiving any form of welfare

after their release from prison, out of the 1,416 prisoners surveyed, 1,203 individuals
As.per.the.survey,.when.recidivist.prisoners.were.asked.about.receiving.any.form.of.welfare.after.their.
release.from.prison,.out.of.the.1,416.prisoners.surveyed,.1,203.individuals.(approximately.85%).indicated.that.
(approximately 85%) indicated that they had never received any form of welfare, while 212
they.had.never.received.any.form.of.welfare,.while.212.prisoners.(around.15%).stated.that.they.had.received.
prisoners (around 15%) stated that they had received some type of welfare. This suggests that
some. type. of. welfare.. This. suggests. that. a. signifi.cant. number. of. former. prisoners. are. unaware. of. the.
a significant number of former prisoners are unaware of the resources available to them.
resources.available.to.them.
Figure 1: Results of a survey on whether or not they received public care after being released from prison:
Figure 1: Results of a survey on whether or not they received public care after being released fromprison:
213

1203

YES

NO

The.prisoners.who.participated.in.the.study.conveyed.their.needs..Out.of.the.827.opinions.received,.37.
The
prisonersa.who
participatedstudy conveyed
their(23.5%).
needs.showed.
Out of interest.
the 827 in.
opinions
per. cent.
expressed.
desire.
to. acquire.ina. theprofession,.
334. opinions.
obtaining.
employment.through.labour.practice.training,.and.321.opinions.(22.6%).indicated.a.desire.to.engage.in.legal.
received, 37 per cent expressed a desire to acquire a profession, 334 opinions (23.5%) showedtraining..Additionally,.10.per.cent.of.the.prisoners.expressed.their.wish.to.partake.in.life.skills.training.
interest in obtaining employment through labour practice training, and 321 opinions (22.6%)

indicated a desire to engage in legal training. Additionally, 10 per cent of the prisoners
expressed their wish to partake in life skills training.

Figure 2: Results of the Survey in the Field of Release Preparation:
Providing legal knowledge and education.

321

Offering instruction in life skills.

230

Facilitating communication between the victim and their family.

130

Incorporating communication skills and psychological training. 10

204

Providing employment opportunities through labor practice.

334

Organizing individual and group meetings to provide advice and guidance.

194

Conducting professional training programmes.

827
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Out.of.the.1,416.inmates.who.took.part.in.the.study,.763.individuals,.or.54.per.cent,.responded.to.the.
question.regarding.their.goals.after.their.release.from.prison.

10

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Out of the 1,416 inmates whoPARTICIPANTS’.PAPERS
took part in the study, 763 individuals, or 54 per cent,responded to the question regarding their goals after their release from prison.
Figure3: Survey
on Life
Goals
After
Release:Figure3: Survey
on Life
Goals
After
Release:
760

407

202
47
Find a job

Start own businessWork in foriegn country

Not planned yet

Based. on. the. research. fi.ndings,. the. conclusion. was. drawn. that. the. prisoners’. preparation. for. release.
Based on the research findings, the conclusion was drawn that the prisoner’s preparation
should. primarily. focus. on. community. integration,. cultivating. positive. habits. and. adherence. to. commonly.
for
releaseaccepted.laws. should primarily focus on community integration, cultivating positive habits, andadherence to commonly accepted laws.

III.
AND
SUPPORT
III.EFFECTIVE
EFFECTIVEINTERVENTIONS,INTERVENTIONS,TREATMENT,TREATMENTAND
SUPPORT
FOR RELEASEDRELEASED INMATESINMATESFOR
The main objective, given the current circumstances of imprisonment, is to ensure that
The.main.objective,.given.the.current.circumstances.of.imprisonment,.is.to.ensure.that.released.prisoners.
releasedprisoners seamlessly integrate into social interactions and gain the capacity to
seamlessly.integrate.into.social.interactions.and.gain.the.capacity.to.independently.make.decisions.within.
independently make decisions within legal boundaries. To achieve this goal, the State Secretary
legal.boundaries..To.achieve.this.goal,.the.State.Secretary.of.the.Ministry.of.Labor.and.Social.Security.took.
of theMinistry of Labor and Social Security took a significant step on 14 October 2021, by
a.signifi.cant.step.on.14.October.2021,.by.issuing.Order.No..148..This.initiative.brought.together.a.team.of.
experts,.
including.
scholars.
from. various.
institutions:.
the.
Ministry.
of. Labor.scholars
and. Social.
issuing Order No.
148. and.
Thisresearchers.
initiative brought
togethera team ofexperts,
includingSecurity,.the.General.Executive.Agency.of.Court.Decisions,.Scientists.from.the.Center.for.the.Study.of.Court.
and researchers from various institutions: the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, theDecisions,.
the. University.
of.of
Home.
Aff.airs..
Their. collaborative.
eff.orts.
creation.
Generaland.
Executive
AgencyCourt
Decisions,
Scientists fromtheresulted.
Center in.
forthe.
theStudy of.
ofthe.
comprehensive.“Programme.for.Preparing.Prisoners.for.Release”.
Court Decisions, and the University of Home Affairs. Their collaborative efforts resulted in thecreationof the comprehensive “Programme
for Preparing Prisoners for
Release”.
This.innovative.programme.received.offi..cial.endorsement.from.two.key.fi.gures:.the.Minister.of.Justice.
and. Internal. Aff.airs,. H.. Nyambaatar,. and. the. Minister. of. Labor. and. Social. Security,. A.. Ariunzaya.. The.
practical.implementation.of.the.programme.was.set.in.motion.through.the.joint.order,.No..A/167.and.A/233,.
dated.30.August.2022.

11

Drawing.from.the.research.fi.ndings.and.the.requirements.of.recidivist.inmates,.the.release.preparation.
programme.will.off.er.a.range.of.services.to.participating.inmates..These.services.encompass:
1.. Arranging. training. and. conducting. guidance. activities. by. accommodating. the. soon-to-be-released.
prisoner.within.a.specifi.cally.designed.“Preparation house”..This.arrangement.aims.to.facilitate.the.
individual’s.adjustment.to.the.social.and.family.environment;
2.. Because.prisoners.often.lack.the.skills.to.eff.ectively.address.and.resolve.challenges.in.a.constructive.
manner,. it. is. essential. to. involve. them. in. training. programmes. designed. to. foster. “Personal.
Development”;
3.. Ensuring.genuine.access.to.government.services.for.citizens.released.from.prison,.facilitating.their.
independent.and.lawful.living.and.assessing.their.capacity.to.function.within.the.community.is.crucial..
This. assessment. also. aids. in. evaluating. the. outcomes. of. socialization. eff.orts. and. subsequently.
incorporating.individuals.into.social.care,.protection.and.employment.mediation.services.to.support.
their.reintegration;
4.. Raising. families’. awareness. of. their. responsibility. towards. their. children. and. engaging. in. more.
11

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 117
individual-focused activities, it is important to offer family-oriented counselling, create a welcoming
environment, mediate and provide professional services to both families and communities, which serve
as prisoners’ primary social environment based on their needs. This initiative also involves providing“Family Reconciliation” services;
5. Facilitating engagement in social and civil legal interactions and to ensure non-discriminatory accessto government services, informative training sessions should be organized by professional organizations.
Collaborative efforts should be made to effectively deliver “Civil Documentation Services”;
6. Providing services geared towards establishing liveable conditions;
7. Coordinating research and mediating employment after release;
8. Integration within social care and service frameworks;
9. Service offerings promoting participation in communal affairs;
10. Clarification and inquiry servicing relating to release processes.
As part of the Programme for Preparing Prisoners for Release, the intention is to conduct socialization
activities.

IV. CONCLUSION
The implementation of this programme aims to enhance the involvement of both governmental and nongovernmental organizations in the preparation of inmates about to be released from prison. This assistancehelps them integrate into society by addressing and resolving post-release challenges, ultimately decreasing
the reoffending rate. The anticipated outcomes include the following:
1. According to the research, approximately 1,200 prisoners are released from prisons each year. Thus,
it was determined that a minimum of 70 per cent of the prisoners released in the present year should
partake in this training programme. This participation aims to prevent situations wherein an individual
might recommit a crime due to their psychological traits and level of socialization.
2. Based on a survey conducted to ascertain inmates’ needs, 54 per cent indicated a desire to secure
employment. Consequently, the programme’s objective incorporates ensuring that a minimum of 50
per cent of individuals released from prison gain employment. This objective stems from the recognition
that honest work is essential for improving our financial situation and addressing life’s crucial
necessities. The success of this programme is anticipated to yield results that align with this perspective.
3. As the study revealed, 6.2 per cent of reoffenders, equivalent to 89 inmates, were without a permanent
residence. Given this finding, it becomes imperative to furnish individuals released from prison andlacking a home with temporary housing and welfare services.
4. Prisoners’ socialization work has shown that running prisons alone is not sufficient. Therefore, theexperiences of foreign countries have demonstrated that involving and increasing specialized civilsociety organizations is more effective. Therefore, it is intended to introduce the leading experiencesof developed countries and increase the number of non-governmental organizations and enterprises
participating in the programme to 30 within the scope of social responsibility of civil society
organizations.
5. The anticipated outcome is the elevation of voluntary programme participants to a count of 10
individuals in each province and locality.

12