“My punishment was to give food to needing Greeks and refugees”

Collage Michael Kirkitziotis

Three stories of convicts for financial crimes spill light on the institute socially useful labor In Greece – Alternative to imprisonmentwhich can change the lives of hundreds of people, simultaneously supporting state structures.

In August 2023, a woman was taken to jail FIV After the conviction to her and her husband for debts to the state. Their company, founded in the early 2000s, closed during the crisis, and since 2015 their debt to the tax service and Ικα (Institute of Social Insurance) increased to 70,000 euros. After the verdict was made without the right to delay, they were arrested, and they spent a week in cells with prisoners convicted of more serious crimes. However, the nightmare did not last long. Partially repaid the debt, they learned from a lawyer that they could leave the rest of the punishment, performing socially useful work in the municipality of their area.

“Do not cry, we will find a solution”

“When I came to the Athens prosecutor’s office to meet with the curator of social assistance, I was in terrible condition. I was morally suppressed. But she reassured me, saying: “Do not cry, we will find a solution.” She invited me to work in the social services of the municipality, where I live, eight hours a day at the reception. Of course I agreed with great relief. From that day my life has changed “– says T.O. In an interview with the publication “TO”asking to maintain anonymity.

Institute of Social Work: 284 convicts participate in the program

“With my colleagues, I quickly got used to it. I perceived this as my work, although I did not receive a salary at the end of the month. I thought I was doing this for an important goal – I pay off my debts. For these years and a half, I spent time in the service with pleasure and feel good because I was able to help with my work. Now that the term of punishment is coming to an end, many colleagues come up and say: “Maybe we will apply for you to stay longer?” ”

All this time for T.O. I regularly watched social workerchecking whether she fulfills her duties, as well as discussing exciting issues with her. One of the problems that had to be able to cope was to avoid comments on relatives about what happened in her family.

“It bothered me not so much because of myself as because of children who did not want to know about it. I am not ashamed of what happened. In my work, the majority know that I am serving a sentence. I told my best friends about this, and they all said: “Well done!” I also don't feel that I am doing something bad, on the contrary “– she explains.

Real life

French O.M. He was convicted by the courts of France. In 2023 he was arrested in Greece and sentenced to Three years in prison For a long -standing case of tax debts of a company for car rental in France, where he was a director. The verdict was sentenced when he had already opened his own business in Greece.

“I asked through a lawyer not to send me back to France, and the Greek state allowed me to stay and serve his sentence here, recognizing my ties with Greece. The first days I spent in a cell in Coridallos With cellmates who smoked a lot. I am 62 years old, and these were difficult conditions, but the court decision was fair “– he shares with “TO”.

After four court hearings, he was informed that he could serve his sentence by working eight hours a day Within seven months for the benefit of society. From November 2023 to the end of May 2024, he worked in the social service near the station Larisadaily distributing food to needing Greeks and refugees.

“Every day I did a lot: I unloaded the truck with supplies, cooked food and handed it out to those who needed it. It was a very positive experience. I used to lead and give instructions, and there I had to obey. I got up early and worked with my hands. It was a clash with real life “– he says.

When asked if he feels that he paid his debt in this way, he replies: “Hope. I made mistakes with the company in France not because we wanted to evade taxes, but because of a change in the legislation and incompetence of our accountant. But I, as a responsible person, had to pay the price. I in no case do not claim that I was innocent “. He adds that now his life is connected with Greece, and he will live between Athens and his beloved island Kitira.

1800 hours

Dentist G.K. It will finish soon 1800 hours socially useful labor, which he is serving in the municipal clinics of the northern suburbs of Athens. The reason for his condemnation was unpaid alimony to his ex-wife, which is why his debt was 25,000 euros. Every day for two years it works four hours in the morning, helping socially vulnerable citizens.

“In the municipal clinic, I was allowed to perform simple procedures: cleaning, fluoridation, first aid. After lunch, I work in my private practice “– he says “TO”emphasizing that this experience is interesting to him.

“I really like what I do. I even think to continue working here as a volunteer after the end of the punishment in order to help, as far as I can. This is my profession, I do not know how to do anything else “.

In his opinion, socially useful work has great value and should be more common in Greece. “In such cases, like mine, when it comes to misconduct, it makes no sense to send a person to jail, because it will not help to improve. On the contrary, this can harm. Socially useful labor not only disciplines, but also allows you to feel the value of help to society, while repaying a difficult debt ”.

Article 81

The Institute of Social Useful Labor is based on Article 81 The Criminal Code of Greece is considered an important step in the modernization of the country's legal system. This measure is used for punishment for a period before two years imprisonment, and, according to the relevant ministerial decision, four hours of work are equated to 100 euros Fulfillment.

Biron Afanitis, Head of the Department of Management and Development of Human Resources of the Municipality of Athens, working there for the past 10 years, talks about the implementation of the program in the municipality since 2007, when the services of social assistance under the Ministry of Justice were first created on the basis of the 1991 law. “Since then, hundreds of people have been working in our services, performing socially useful work. There were periods when the measure was used limited, and sometimes either intensified or weakened. “– he shares with “TO”.

According to the Ministry of Justice, more 200 state institutions (municipalities, prosecutors, museums, hospitals, etc.) participate in the program that has about 3000 active jobs. “Today, 32 people work in the municipality of Athens under this program, most of whom are employed in cleaning, landscaping services, as well as in social services, municipal clinics and administrative support. These are people who have committed crimes of a non -criminal nature, and their work is controlled by experienced employees with whom they interact daily “– notes Afanitis, emphasizing that the program significantly strengthens the services oriented to vulnerable groups of the population.

Distrust and prejudice

An important role in this process is played by the services of curators of social assistance, which evaluate the personal and social characteristics of the participants (age, education, skills, health status, family and professional obligations) in order to choose the most suitable place of work. The curators also monitor the execution of punishment from the first to the last day, including unplanned checks at the workplace.

Head of the Department of Curators of Social Assistance of Athens Chris Tatarid And the curator John Mikha They talked about the main difficulties that the program participants face. “Distrust and prejudice remains a problem for convicts, despite significant steps in informing and increasing awareness of alternative punishments”– emphasizes Tatarid. According to Miha, many participants are faced with restrictions on professional rehabilitation, alienation from friends and family, which sometimes leads to mental disorders or, in rare cases, relapses. However, in some cases, as shown by stories recorded “TO”socially useful work becomes an incentive and an opportunity for reintegration of people convicted of easy offenses.

Tatarid gives an example of successful reintegration: “The young man who used drugs and convicted of theft was sent to work in the landscaping and cleaning of the gardens of the municipality. Thanks to the support of the curator and the understanding of employees, he was able to distance himself from the criminal environment, acquire new skills, undergo rehabilitation and set new goals in life, such as work and family ”. She adds that such examples inspire themselves.

However, Tatarida notes that in Greece, socially useful labor is not used enough. “Limited recognition from the system of criminal justice and society, insufficient cooperation of state structures and resistance create obstacles to the effective application of this measure and its recognition, as a tool for changes for the benefit of personality and society”– she concludes.

Based on publication Katimerini

Source link