Moravian-Silesian Region signs agreement to use inmate labor for social services

The Moravian-Silesian Region and the Prison Service of the Czech Republic have signed a memorandum of cooperation to allow inmates to perform voluntary manual labor for regional organizations. This initiative aims to assist social and healthcare facilities that struggle to fill vacancies while supporting the social reintegration of prisoners.

Inmates will participate in tasks such as technical and cleaning work, grounds maintenance, and gardening. The work will be strictly voluntary and performed during afternoons or weekends without financial compensation. To ensure safety, the Prison Service will vet all participants and assign them to specific work programs. A specialized web application developed by the regional authority will facilitate the coordination of requests between regional organizations and prisons.

The first pilot project involves cooperation between Heřmanice Prison and the Domov Duha organization in Nový Jičín, where inmates are expected to repair walkways and paint garden furniture. Officials noted that similar cooperation has previously occurred in Ostrava during flood relief efforts.