Polityka lokalna w zakresie realizacji postulatów pomocy postpenitencjarnej

The paper discusses the problem of post-penitentiary assistance as a form of support to prisoners who undergo a process of preparation to live at large and need help in their local communities. A major aim of post-penitentiary assistance is not only to prevent social exclusion of prisoners and their families but also their relapse into crime. Various assistance activities are undertaken to achieve this aim including those organised by post-penitentiary and local council institutions and district offices, welfare centres, culture and educational establishments and non-goverment organisations which function at the municipal level. These activities could be observed in particular Polish towns during the partition of Poland when schools and local associations undertook initiatives regarding assistance to prisoners. It is worth noting that in 1918-1939, various forms of support activities were organised by associations such as the ones mentioned above, including ”Patronat” and municipalities, welfare centres, museums, schools and local parishes. Nowadays, local policy plays an important role in post-penitentiary assistance, particularly when a sentence is served. Remand centres, correction institutions cooperate under various projects with local councils and non-government institutions to prepare convicts to live at large.