The Role and Importance of Treatment in the Resocialization Process of Convicts

The purpose of the execution of prison sentence is for the convicted individual to adopt socially acceptable values through the application of appropriate treatment programmes during the prison term. Their purpose is easier inclusion in living conditions after the execution of the sentence, so that said individual does not commit criminal acts in the future. The above mentioned raises the question of whether it is possible for a person to change while serving a sentence and, after leaving prison, turn into a free citizen, useful for himself and society, how different prison deprivations and other factors affect the resocialization effects, which forms of treatment may influence changes in attitude, habits and behaviour of prisoners, etc. Looking for the effects of treatment and answers to the above questions, this paper tries to indicate the actual situation, problems and challenges in the process of resocialization of prisoners, especially those serving long prison sentences, and possible ways to improve the situation in this area. With that objective, the role and importance of different forms of treatment in the realization of the resocialization process is particularly emphasized. The conclusion is that the execution of prison sentences must not be reduced to a minimum of prison routines and lack of planning and practice related to a wide range of treatment forms. Also, further efforts should be focused on hiring a sufficient number of trained treatment officers, investing in treatment facilities and programmes, developing a long-term policy towards prisoners serving long prison sentences and paying greater attention to their more intensive treatment, all in order to ensure the conditions that will contribute to the possibility of achieving the purpose of the prison sentence