In my bachelor’s thesis, I focused on the role of social work in supporting people who have served a prison sentence. Social work has an important role in the field of working with people who have served prison sentences. It offers help and support in various fields, the process of helping begins during the prison sentence and continues after the prison sentence. In the theoretical part, I first presented the characteristics of prisons, the consequences of imprisonment, and the issue of recidivism. I then focused on the helping process, social work in the prison environment, preparation for release, and the importance of post-release support and assistance during an individual’s transition back into the community. In the empirical part, I present the findings of the case study I conducted. Firstly, I interviewed a person who has served prison sentences and a social worker, employed in one of the prisons in Slovenia and conducted an analysis of the documentation. I asked about the process of post-release help and support, preparation for release, working methods that facilitate successful community reentry and reduce the risk of recidivism, as well as the challenges experienced both by people who have served a prison sentence and by the social workers who support them after release.
I found out that the process of help of a person who has served a prison sentence, starts during the serving of the prison sentence itself and continues after release. In the examined case, the process was lengthy and gradual, with various prison staff playing an important role. A trusting an open relationship, an individualised approach, conversations, reflection, practical assistance, work on specific goals, and the gradual strengthening of independence emerged as effective methods of work. Throughout the process, the participant developed skills related to setting boundaries, recognising triggers of difficulties, managing emotions, practicing self-care, and independently handling everyday life situations. After release, she had faced financial difficulties, challenging family relationships, the consequences of intimate partner violence, stigmatisation, and the loss of support previously provided by prison staff. Her own motivation was an important factor in her progress – however, the effectiveness of the support also depended on the quality of professional assistance, cooperation between institutions, and access to housing, employment, and other forms of support. The findings highlight the importance of continuous post-release support that is established in a timely manner.
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