What happens when you're separated from life, environment or people and socially isolated for 3, 6, 10, 20 or 25 years? Who's in jail? What do we know about the men and women serving in Zaballa's macro-prison?

For those who have been serving prisoners serving sentences in Zaballa prison for decades, we want to reflect on the possibilities that the application of Basic Income in the Basque Autonomous Community can entail for this group.

Let's think of a moment in jail, in that powerful institution that society doesn't know. It's like a social microcosm with all social problems.

We believe that human rights are one of the fundamental keys to the care of people deprived of their liberty, both because they are a vulnerable group that brings together many needs, and because of the reality of being in prison. It must be borne in mind that the right to freedom is one of the most important fundamental rights and that its abolition has serious consequences for these people. Custodial sentences, resocialization and re-education should have a double constitutional orientation that should be taken as a reference, so prisoners should obtain a model of compliance that prioritizes the execution of the sentence in the open medium, with specialized means of care. We defend a model of social compliance and that would have the support of the community.

The majority of those serving the penalty of deprivation of liberty have deficits and educational, social, training, health, economic or emotional needs, and require specialized means to address them, and the responsibility lies with the community and public and social institutions.

In addition, people in prison continue to have basic needs (clothing, footwear, cleaning and hygiene products, telephone calls, coffee or tobacco...). Some may have a paid job (with low wages) or a pension. A high percentage receive family support with the economic burden it entails. But there's also a group of people who don't have income.

When departure processes begin (with secondary permits, daily departures in open mode, etc. ), expenditure increases with transport, food, telephony, housing search, etc. There are those who have to face civil liability for the crime, collaborate in childcare... Others have great health needs (medication not fully covered by Social Security, prostheses, various dental diseases, need for glasses, etc. ).

And there comes a freedom that is both dreaded and terrible. How do we face the return to society from vulnerability? The reconstruction of a life at the end of the prison is very costly, emotionally, socially and economically.

For those who have been able to maintain family and friendly ties, the road to travel will not be so difficult. But that is not the reality of an important sector of the ex-prison population. There are people serving sentences outside their places of origin, they are poor, they have health problems (the consumption of toxins, as a result of a long sentence), family relations may be deteriorated, external social resources are increasingly difficult to care for this group and, above all, they may feel completely alone and unheaded.

The existence of an unconditional Basic Income would undoubtedly represent important benefits for the area to which we refer, dignifying and empowering people.

In prison:

- Persons deprived of their liberty could face day-to-day and routine expenses without being imposed by the family economy.

- Having an unconditional Basic Income would improve the quality of life inside the prison, improve autonomy, improve mental health and self-esteem.

- Unconditional Basic Income would help to reduce economic inequalities and power between prisoners and prisoners in order to reduce chauvinist, racist or simply against the most unprotected people.

- The right to an unconditional basic income would favour the existence of work in conditions similar to those in prison.

- Unconditional Basic Income would make it possible to meet civil responsibilities, plan to leave prison with more guarantees, help cover the cost of caring for children or dependants, etc.

- A decline in criminal activity could be envisaged, resulting in significant savings in the costs of crime and a reduction in the emotional and human suffering consequences (in victims and victims).

After serving the sentence out of prison:

- Out of jail, Unconditional Basic Income becomes an essential tool to start a new life in more dignified conditions.

- Unconditional Basic Income empowers those who receive it because it promotes autonomy, because it allows them to do life projects, because it can decide with whom to live. This is especially true of women who are victims of abuse.

- The Unconditional Basic Income, in alleviating the situation of poverty, will be an effective instrument to deal with situations of stigmatization and vulnerability with greater self-esteem.

For all prisoners and ex-prisoners, but above all for all population groups in a situation of lack of protection, Unconditional Basic Income will be the best vaccine that will allow them to integrate into the new itinerary and become part of the community.

* The article has been subscribed by the following associations:

Salhaketa of Álava,

Home,

Gypsy association Gao Lacho Rom,

Sidalava Citizen Anti-AIDS Commission of Álava,

Adap Prisoners Support Association. .