SEPTEMBER 2025 - Flipbook - Page 9
NEWS
Mauri琀椀us Prison Service Embraces Rehabilita琀椀on-Centered Reform
The Mauri琀椀us Prison Service is undergoing
a significant paradigm shift, adopting
a fresh philosophy that emphasizes
rehabilita琀椀on over mere incarcera琀椀on.
The guiding principle now is that the
success of a prison system should not be
measured solely by the number of inmates
held behind bars, but by how e昀昀ec琀椀vely it
helps individuals reintegrate into society.
This transformative outlook was
ar琀椀culated by the Secretary for Home
A昀昀airs (SHA), Mrs. Kan Oye Fong WengPoorun, on Tuesday 9 September 2025,
during the Passing Out Parade at the
Prison Training School in Beau Bassin. The
event also celebrated the presenta琀椀on of
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
to 13 experienced o昀케cers, in the presence
of dis琀椀nguished guests.
Mrs. Fong Weng-Poorun explained that
this ini琀椀a琀椀ve will align Mauri琀椀us’ prison
system with interna琀椀onal best prac琀椀ces,
o昀昀ering inmates comprehensive support
including addiction recovery, mental
health services, educa琀椀on and life skills
development.
She stressed that the e昀昀ec琀椀veness of this
program will hinge on the professionalism,
dedica琀椀on and compassionate interac琀椀on
of prison sta昀昀, who serve as the frontline
agents of change.
Addressing the new recruits, the SHA
highlighted that the Passing Out Parade
symbolizes more than tradi琀椀on; it signi昀椀es
their readiness, resilience and commitment
to jus琀椀ce and human dignity within the
correc琀椀onal system. “You have endured
rigorous physical and mental training,
demonstra琀椀ng your ability to lead, stay
composed under pressure and treat all
individuals with fairness and humanity,
regardless of their past”, she stated.
To seasoned Prison O昀케cers, Mrs. Fong
Weng-Poorun acknowledged their crucial
role in the jus琀椀ce system, encouraging
them to take pride in their work. She
urged them to uphold discipline, honesty
and integrity, remaining steadfast despite
external criticisms and to continue
exemplifying the high standards expected
of them.
Out of the 37 individuals who embarked
on the training to become Prison O昀케cers,
33 successfully completed the sixmonth induc琀椀on course and took the
oath of allegiance. This cohort includes
a Woman Prison O昀케cer and an O昀케cer
from Rodrigues, reflecting Mauritius’s
commitment to inclusive and diverse
representation within its correctional
services.
In her address, Mrs. Fong Weng-Poorun
emphasized that prison sta昀昀 are now
viewed as vital change agents and key
players in fostering rehabilita琀椀on. They
are tasked with guiding inmates toward
posi琀椀ve transforma琀椀on, with the ul琀椀mate
goal of successful societal reintegra琀椀on.
This new approach aims to foster a posi琀椀ve
culture within the correc琀椀onal system
and is expected to lead to a reduc琀椀on
in recidivism rates. A cornerstone of this
reform is the upcoming launch of an
innova琀椀ve program at the Pe琀椀t Verger
Rehabilita琀椀on and Reintegra琀椀on Centre
— the 昀椀rst of its kind in Mauri琀椀us.
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