Eiffage Foundation: Social and professional reintegration of prisoners due to be released

Work release programmes are a type of sentence adjustment that allows someone serving a prison sentence to leave prison in order to carry out a professional activity within a dedicated organisation. Work release programmes are particularly adapted to people serving longer sentences, people who have social and/or integration difficulties and those struggling with addiction. These programmes involve supervision as well as social and judicial assistance and educational support, which is provided by associations working closely with the prison integration and probation services (SPIP). For people who have spent several years in prison, they can help to avoid what are known as “dry releases”, which are a key factor in reoffending, and enable a gradual return to autonomy. In fact 63% of people who complete their sentence without any community support find themselves back in the judicial system within five years of being released. This demonstrates the need for more early release programmes, something which is borne out by innovative programmes being carried out at the Ferme de Moyembrie that show a very low rate of reoffending among prisoners on work release programmes: 6%.   

The Eiffage Foundation is supporting four organisations that have set up work release programmes: two agro-ecological farms based on the recognised and proven Moyembrie Farm model, originally set up in the Picardy region in the 1990s as part of the Emmaüs movement; an integration work site; and a barge providing comprehensive prisoner support. 

Since March 2020, the Eiffage Foundation has been supporting Emmaüs Lespinassière in the Aude region, an agro-ecological farm launched in May 2018 that offers comprehensive support for prisoners coming to the end of their sentence, to encourage their social reintegration and prevent reoffending. Six resident employees work at an organic market garden and are given accommodation at the site. An agreement was signed between Emmaüs France and the prison administration to develop this model within each of the ten inter-regions. The Moyembrie and Lespinassière farms have helped support more than 500 people since they were set up, providing prisoners with optimal support for six to twelve months and allowing a positive exit rate towards employment or training ranging between 40% and 60%. The Foundation contributed to the eco-friendly renovation of the Emmaüs Lespinassière main building, a project sponsored by Rémy Vast, a team leader at Eiffage Energie Systèmes.  

Since November 2020, it has also been supporting the Sources d'Envol association located in Saint-Gildas-des-Bois in the Loire-Atlantique region, another agro-ecological farm based on the Moyembrie model, which also focuses on organic and dairy farming. Alexis Lechopier, a development manager at Eiffage Immobilier, is sponsoring the project. 

Since November 2020, the Foundation has also been supporting the Sauvegarde de l’Enfance et de l’Adolescence de la Drôme association located in Puygiron in the Drôme region, which has been helping young offenders and young people in the care of child protection services since 1948. The association provides them with independent housing and gives them access to reinforced social and professional support. Since 2014, it has been running “Ateliers du Jabron” workshops, which provide prisoners with support to prevent reoffending and encourage their social and professional integration thanks to integration projects in various sectors such as childcare, green space maintenance and building sub-trades. The project is being sponsored by Olivier Votte, a works supervisor at Eiffage Route. 

Finally, since November 2020, the Eiffage Foundation has been supporting the Wake up Café association which, since 2014, has been providing comprehensive support for former prisoners thanks to a three-week programme during their sentence followed by personalised and tailored support on their release. People on the programme are known as "wakers" and commit to becoming part of a supportive community. The result is a below 9% rate of reoffending within five years of release and a return to employment or training for 60% of people at the end of the programme. To meet the growing need for prisoner support, the association is opening new branches in France, including a barge project in Boulogne-Billancourt, which the Foundation will be contributing to financially. Ibrahima NDiaye, a programme manager at Eiffage Immobilier, is sponsoring the project. 

Find out more… 

About work release programmes

About the Eiffage Foundation

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