Prisoners hoping to transition back into life in the community after serving time for their crimes will need the wider community's support, says one of Samoa's top law enforcement officials.

The Deputy Commissioner for Prisons and Corrections Services, Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga, made the appeal last week when the Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services (SPPCS) ran an awareness program at Matautu Lefaga on its rehabilitation and reintegration programs for inmates.

According to a statement released by the SPPCS on Saturday, the community awareness program is the second lot they've done targeting a community. The first rehabilitation community awareness was conducted at the Voice of Christ Church at Vaitele Uta and attracted participants from Vailoa Faleata, Siusega, Falelauniu, and Nu’u.

The rehabilitation community awareness is part of the implementation plan by the SPPCS – to inform and educate the community on the rehabilitation and reintegration programs offered for inmates – which emphasised the importance of community support during the incarceration period and when inmates re-enter society.

Giving a presentation last week, Leiataua highlighted the need for support from the broader community for its rehabilitation and reintegration programs.

“These inmates rely on your support, so they could have a smooth transition back to society without being regarded as convicts or bad influence," he said.

During his sermon Rev. Esaroma Fatilua of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa at Matautu-Tai Lefaga pointed out the importance of the community's support for such programs.

“SPPCS is working towards building, moulding and reshaping inmate’s lives, but when they re-enter society, we as the community should embrace them with open arms, don’t avoid them and stereotypically say stay away from them, he or she was a prisoner," he said. 

To give the community more details on how its rehabilitation and reintegration programs were run, the SPPCS Assistant Commissioner (Development Programs), Motunu’u Teofilo, and the team presented the different activities and rehabilitation programs by the SPPCS to try and assist those incarcerated.

The awareness program included items and skits showcased and performed by the inmates themselves with members of the Lefaga community expressing their gratitude towards the SPPCS.

“I am so grateful this program was able to come to Lefaga," says Apemanūtoao Kerisimasi. “It is such a pleasant sight to witness the change in some of the inmates today."

A veteran Corrections Officer Faumuinā Tua Lē Mamea emphasised the importance of awareness programs in the community.

“The program has opened our minds," said Faumuinā. “It has allowed our community to understand what we can do to help SPPCS and support the men and women incarcerated at Tanumalala and any other Correctional facilities.”

The rehabilitation community awareness will be rolled out by the SPPCS in all of Upolu and Savai’i.