Sex offender resocialization funds lacking

Nov 26, 2008
In cooperation with BNS

RIGA- The Latvian parliament committee for human rights and public affairs is worried about the lack of funds for the program for resocialization of sex offenders.

 The parliament press service reported that on Nov. 25, the committee visited the Probation Service to study the work of the agency and its 2009 funding. The lawmakers are concerned that no money has been allocated for the program of resocialization of sex offenders in the coming year.

"The society has a reason to blame the state and the government for unacceptably high number of cases when children are sexually abused or even die. Financing must be found for safety of the society and the children, because it is inadmissible to fight the consequences instead of the causes," said MP Janis Smits, the chairman of the parliament committee.

The lawmakers will ask the state to find the financing for solving these problems in 2009.

“Economizing at the expense of child safety is an unpardonable crime,” said Smits.

The State Probation Service head Aleksandrs Dementjevs confirmed that no money has been allocated for the programs aimed at correcting social behavior by sex offenders. To prevent the reoccurrence of sex crimes, the Probation Service in 2008 carried out a treatment program at the penitentiaries. There were preparations to continue the program in 2009, working with the sex offenders after their release from the jail.

"Jail does not and will not reform the convicts, unless something is done with them there. The world practice of probation programs shows that human behavior can be reformed in about 50 percent of cases," said Dementjevs.

Implementation of both parts of the program would cost 300,000 lats (427,000 euro) annually, reported Justice Ministry experts, but only those measures that do not require additional funds had been left on the ministry's action plan for prevention of sex crimes against minors for 2009.

The programs for correction of sex offenders as well as educational measures designed to help identify the cases of child abuse have been put off until 2010.

Starting January 1, 2009, the Probation Service has to let go 48 of its 521 employees, and the Valmiera social rehabilitation center where the ex-convicts could stay for a year after release and receive help in finding in a place to live and a job will also be close for lack of financing.

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