SEMARANG – The Class IIA Semarang Women’s Prison continues to develop various development and empowerment programs to prepare inmates to return to their families and communities after serving their sentences. These programs include training in sewing, culinary arts, handicrafts, batik making, makeup, greenhouse management, productive activities, and religious guidance. These efforts have made the Semarang Women’s Prison a reference for good practices in correctional management. After achieving the Clean and Serving Bureaucratic Region (WBBM) designation in 2020, the prison has also served as a study site several times and received praise from various parties for its efforts to fulfill women’s rights, protect women, and empower them.
This picture is reinforced by research by the Social Humanities Research Student Creativity Program Team (PKM-RSH) of Semarang State University (UNNES) in 2026. The team consisting of Shafa Azzahrah Waluyo, Jenyes Intan Sururoh, Tri Lutfi Tasdiqu Zaman, Putri Noorfia Khairunnisaa, and Muhammad Khansa Al Aflah, with the guidance of lecturer Achmad Miftachul ‘Ilmi, M.Pd., conducted research on 10 female inmates at the Class IIA Semarang Women’s Prison.
Research shows that serving time not only presents limitations, but also provides a process of adjustment, reflection, and change in inmates’ perspectives on themselves and life in prison. Initial, frightening perceptions can change as they adapt and participate in various correctional activities.
“I thought it had to be scary. There had to be some beatings between inmates because that’s what it looks like on TV. After I learned about it, it wasn’t that scary,” said IK-04.
Family, spirituality, skills, meaningful activities, and social relationships are also sources of strength for inmates. Family is even a crucial factor in their survival and building hope after release. “The hardest part is being away from my children,” said IK-06.
These findings confirm that correctional facilities play a role in developing skills, fostering hope, and preparing inmates for reintegration into society. However, successful social reintegration also requires family and community support, stigma reduction, and opportunities for work and creativity to ensure the positive changes during the rehabilitation process can be sustained.
The UNNES Community Service Program (PKM-RSH) team emphasized that social reintegration requires continuity between correctional facilities and community acceptance. This effort aligns with SDG 3 (Healthy and Well-Being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
