The Yellow Ribbon Program is more than just an inmate enrolment initiative and focuses on rehabilitation, reintegration and restoring dignity to former inmates, Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga told Parliament this week.
Mr Turaga said the program operated as a “broad rehabilitation and reintegration framework” involving counselling, vocational and life-skills training, employment expos, stakeholder engagement and post-release support.
“Successful rehabilitation and reintegration requires a whole-of-society approach,” Mr Turaga said.
“The Yellow Ribbon Program continues to focus not only on reducing recidivism, but also on restoring dignity, promoting accountability, and providing former inmates with meaningful opportunities to become productive members of society.”
He revealed that Government allocated $200,000 annually to the program between 2022 and 2024, with utilisation ranging from $185,917 to $197,242.
For the 2025-2026 financial year, the allocation increased to $225,000, with $222,776 already utilised.
Mr Turaga said enrolment included inmates participating in pre-release rehabilitation programs, counselling sessions, vocational training and family engagement programs conducted by the Fiji Corrections Service.
He also outlined support provided through the Ex-Inmates Livelihood Support Fund, which had assisted dozens of former inmates with business and reintegration support since 2021.
Mr Turaga said in the current financial year, 38 former inmates had received assistance worth nearly $71,000.
