Home Minister Sheikh Imran ABdulla has stated that the country should focus on reforming jailed offenders instead of punishing them in order to prepare them to be positive contributors to the community upon their release.
Speaking at an event in Maafushi Jail on Sunday, the minister said the knowledge, capability and talent required to carry out such reform should first be acquired before attempting such a feat.
"We truly want to design our whole system to work towards reform instead of punishment", said the minister.
Minister Imran said people are jailed as a consequence of their actions. Therefore, the criminal justice system should be shaped in such a way that prisoners are easily able to access means of reform before heading out to the community again. The minister stressed that increased efforts are required from jail officers in order to achieve this.
The most important step in reforming criminals is passing on beneficial knowledge to them, he added.
