New restaurant in Marseille: Ex-prisoners start!

New restaurant in Marseille: Ex-prisoners start!

Traverse de Rabat, 13009 Marseille, Frankreich - In France, the efforts to reintegrate from former inmates are the focus of public debates. Currently reports Radio France that will be released again within five years after a stay become. Much of them have no professional experience, which significantly increases the relapse rate.

In order to counteract this worrying trend, a system for support in discharge (SAS) has been launched with the support of the French government since 2018. This project aims to promote the integration of the detainees into society and reduce the relapse rate. The first SAS was founded in Marseille, in the former women's department of the Baumettes. Since then, the SAS of the tree has become an important example of successful reintegration.

The role of SAS and the Les Beaux-Mets restaurant

As part of the SAS, the Les Beaux-Mets restaurant was opened in November 2022. It is headed by the organization Festin, who specializes in reintegration through culinary experiences. Concepts of similar projects such as "The Clink" in London or "in Galera" in Milan. Chef Sandrine Selier and a team of four kitchen aids as well as three service staff not only offer the occupants a job, but also a valuable training to develop their skills.

The special thing about Les Beaux-Mets is that the employees receive 45% of the minimum wage. This helps to ensure that the former occupants not only earn money, but also learn to take responsibility. In 2024, 67% of employees who worked in the restaurant achieved a job or further training, which underlines the effectiveness of this project.

background of reintegration and challenges

Not only the SAS in Marseille fights against the high relapse rate. Village Justice describes that these structures are part of a more comprehensive plan that under the patronage of Nicole Belloubet, the former Minister of Justice was called. These initiatives focus on offering individual support and improving the transition phase between detention and freedom, especially for those inmates that were sentenced under 1-2 years of prison.

The challenge remains great because almost half of the detainees do not have a school leaving certificate, which complicates the integration on the labor market. Therefore, access to SAS depends on strict recording criteria, which focus on a low risk of relapse and a serious reintegration project.

In addition, the research project "Paths from the Criminal Coat - Reintegration of Former Criminals" under the direction of Christian Ghanem analyzes the conditions and courses of reintegration processes. It turns out that social relationships, work and training are decisive factors for successful reintegration. The project considers various types of course, from stabilization to stagnation, and emphasizes the role of gainful employment as a key to changes.

The future development plans also provide for an expansion of the SAS structures with the aim of creating a total of 2,000 places by 2022. This could not only combat the overcrowding in prisons, but also reduce the relapse rate significantly, such as DBH online