The economic vulnerability of women and their families as a result of their detention should mean that, during their detention, women are provided with appropriate educational and training programs to empower them economically and improve their employment prospects. The study which focuses on the causes and consequences of women’s imprisonment in Sierra Leone has found that in all the correctional centers across the countries, these programs are insufficient or unsuitable. The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice and AdvocAid cited that while there are libraries in all the prisons the research team visited, they are largely unused because most women in detention are illiterate.
According to the correctional officers they spoke to, in some of the more rural and remote centers, training and rehabilitation activities are quasi non-existent. There were almost no educational or job skills training programs available in the correctional centers in Bo, Moyamba, Kono and Port Loko. In those centers, opportunities for learning and recreation are extremely rare and the only entertainment available is a radio. However, on a more positive note, 36 per cent of the women surveyed, mostly those detained in Freetown, said they had taken part in an educational class.
Many women had attended adult literacy classes and were enthusiastic about them, having learnt to read and write a little. Others reported being able to participate in adult education classes such as math, science and English. In Freetown, 15 per cent of the women surveyed reported having attended computer literacy classes. “Being in prison has created a positive impact in my life especially now that I can spell my name and other little spelling. Education is really vital, and I wish I had the chance to study more before” a woman in prison said.
“Poverty is not only a pathway to prison but also a stark reality that women face after their release. As s a barrier to their rehabilitation and reintegration into society, poverty can, in some cases, lead to recidivism, even though research has indicated that women generally tend to reoffend less than men.” The stigma attached to female imprisonment further deprives women of their social safety networks. The loss of social network in turn further hinders women’s chances at reintegration. Many of the women interviewed told the researchers that they were worried about their economic situation after their release.
35 percent of the women did not think they would be able to support themselves and their families post release. “As an old woman who is the breadwinner of a home, my whole family is crumbling down gradually. I have a lot of people that depended on me for their survival, but now that I am here and have lost everything, what is the fate of these people?” queried a woman in prison.
This study established that most of the women who are in prison in Sierra Leone are petty traders. As a result, one of the main concerns of women leaving prison is finding initial capital to restart their business. Many can no longer rely on their families and find it challenging to ask for loans or find business partners since they have lost standing within their communities. Employers are also reluctant to hire women who have been to prison.
AdvocAid and Prison Watch provide start-up grants to many women. However, most women lack the vocational skills, education and connections necessary to find steady and decent employment in the long term. “My sister, who has been released, has not been engaged in anything meaningful since. She is now a drunk and acts abnormal. The community considers her an ex-convict and not the best candidate for any job. This has affected me because it is very sad and because I have to support her for now until she can get a source of livelihood for herself and feel better” A sister of a formerly incarcerated woman told the researchers.
By Zainab Iyamide Joaque