𝐍𝐨 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧: 𝐅𝐂𝐒

“There is nothing glamourous about life in Prison.”

This was the message delivered by Staff Officer Yellow Ribbon Program of the Fiji Corrections Service, Assistant Superintendent of Corrections (ASC) Isireli Dausiga during his awareness programs at schools this week.

The FCS has stepped up on its awareness programs by taking the message right to students in various schools especially around red zone areas.

The Red Zones are areas marked by the Fiji Police Force as crime prone areas.

This week a team led by ASC Dausiga visited two schools, from Kalabu High School and this morning was at William Cross High School in Makoi, as a lead up to the Yellow Ribbon Walk scheduled for this July 19 in Nausori.

“We are here to tell you that Prison is a waste of time, and once you enter prison life gets harder from there and even after you come out,’’ ASC Dausiga shared.

ASC Dausiga shared that the FCS actively conducts awareness programs in schools to educate students about the various aspects of their work. These initiatives aim to show students that prison is not a glamorous place and to deter them from making choices that could lead them to incarceration.

The FCS also partners with schools for community engagement programs.

“It is a total waste of time for young teenagers like you, a waste of your parent’s investment, your teachers and only brings pain and heart ache to your family and friends when you are incarcerated.”

ASC Dausiga, who is also a mentor to troubled high school students, shared that there are often certain types of behavior with teenagers who often end up in Prison.

“First of all, ill-discipline, the lack of respect for elders, a lot of self-pride and the inability to listen are often the key behaviors of those who will make a wrong decision one day and that will lead you to jail.”

He also reminded them, that school can also be a liberator from bad situations.

“Maybe some of you here in this school are going through tough times which makes you behave in certain ways, remember you are in a school and can always talk to teachers for help. Teachers are here to help you become better people. School also keeps you occupied with positive things.

William Cross School principal Master Sunia Ragede thanked the FCS for the initiative saying such pro-active exercises was necessary for the school as they sit in the middle of a red zone for crime.

“Children in this school come from this neighbourhood and see crime every day so we need to be reminding them constantly to stay in the education system and getting people from FCS to talk to them really drives the message home about the risks of prison life.”

The FCS actively works to rehabilitate offenders and reintegrate them into society, but work has now extended beyond prison walls through various programs and initiatives. These include community outreach awareness programs, family support programs, visitations of ex-offenders and forming partnerships with stakeholders and organisations.

Its biggest community engagement program is coming up this July 19 at Nausori which is the 2025 Yellow Ribbon Walk.