Offenders at the Divundu Correctional Facility in the Kavango East Region are embracing the pre-release programme.

The programme introduced a year ago, aims to prepare them for their transition into the outside world.

Many inmates would agree that the most exciting, if stressful, part about being incarcerated is being released.

Experts agree that it is not easy to step back into the outside world after having been locked up for a period of time.

Head of Case Management Services at the facility, Assistant Commissioner Lydia Mukono, said, "If inmates's reintegration needs and concerns are not addressed before release, they are likely to affect their successful reintegration into the community, and this in turn might become a risk factor, like concerns might become risk factors, and inmates will probably reoffend again."

Inmates start the pre-release programme a year before they are due for release.

Some of the themes in the programme include self-development, victim-inmate reconciliation, and accessing community resources, among many others.

Mukono elaborates on the family reunification and support system in place.

"They have been away from their family, so some of them cut communication; hence, we need to assist when the inmate is released from the correctional facility. They need to go back to their family, and family is a huge factor. Inmates need their support system outside and help them stay away from crime. Just to make sure that we try to unify the inmate with the family, especially if the crime was committed against a family member."

Even though the programme has only been running for a year, Mukono says feedback from the inmates has been great.

Divundu Correctional Service has so far facilitated four pre-release programmes and some of the inmates credit it with assisting them in regulating their emotions.

During the pre-release programme, inmates received courses in employment and financial planning. These are their ambitions once they get released.

Offenders say being in a correctional facility is not pleasant, but if you keep an open mind, you are able to gain some knowledge and learn new skills.