Sabrido highlights the work of the public service in the social reintegration of inmates in penitentiary centers

Ocaña.- The delegate of the Government of Spain in Castilla-La Mancha, José Pablo Sabrido, presided over the institutional act on the occasion of the day of Our Lady of Mercy, patron of penitentiary institutions, held in Ocaña, Toledo.

Sabrido wanted to recognize the work done by the public function in the social reintegration of prisoners, something that for the delegate “does not mean relativizing responsibility or forgetting the victims”, but “assuming that the fulfillment of a sentence must also serve to prepare the person to return to society when that sentence ends”.

In this regard, the delegate recalled that the inmates of the penitentiary centers, in the vast majority of cases, will again enjoy their freedom, “therefore, the really useful question is not only how long a sentence lasts, but in what conditions that person will return”, reiterating his “sincere recognition” to all professionals working in penitentiary institutions.

“The strength of the rule of law lies precisely in the fact that each institution rigorously fulfils its role”

Sabrido asserted that “the penitentiary system cannot be understood apart from judicial resolutions, jurisdictional control and guarantees that preserve the rights and obligations of all”, claiming the importance of each of the agencies in the proper functioning and strength of a Rule of Law.

For this reason, the Government delegate has valued the functioning of penitentiary institutions throughout the country, with special memory of the Castilian Manchegas, highlighting their great “strength”, which is sustained by “officials who know their work well, who know how to exercise authority with balance, who must respond to difficult situations and who, on many occasions, carry out work whose effectiveness is precisely to prevent problems from occurring”.

In addition, Sabrido praised on the day of Our Lady of Mercy the coordination and cooperation that these penitentiary institutions represent and that are essential for the functioning of a Rule of Law: “Their work in the areas of security, prevention, custody, conduct and collaboration with the Prison and Judicial Administration is essential.”

24 people recognized for their contribution to penitentiary institutions

A total of 25 recognitions in different categories have been given at the event. First, nine commemorative plaques for 25 years of service, three of them to Ocaña I officials: Mercedes Medel Mateo, Juan Luis Cerro Martínez and Elena de la Calle; and six more workers from Ocaña II: Teresa Gallardo García, Pilar Gómez Escuela, Juan Carlos Navacerrada Luengo, María del Carmen Valdeolivas Rodríguez, Juan Vicente Jiménez Saiz and Eduardo Ávila López-Gálvez.

Secondly, nine honorable mentions have been given, seven of which have fallen to officials of Ocaña I: María del Carmen Andarias Martín, Reyes Martínez Ruiz, Concepción Elvira Álvarez, Tomás Verdugo Bandin, Felipe Morales Fernández, Roberto Fernando Vallinas Prieto and Tomás Jiménez Sáez-Bravo; and two workers from Ocaña II: Pedro José González de San Anselmo and Rubén Montoro López.

Subsequently, it was the turn of the bronze medals, one of them corresponding to prison social merit to Ángel Girol Garrón, recognizing his work from outside the institution, maintaining a particularly outstanding collaboration and a firm commitment to prison work and social reintegration.

After her, Serafín Martín Valderrábanos and Amor Sarmiento Sarmiento have received the bronze medals for penitentiary merit, which recognizes the trajectory, dedication and special merit demonstrated in professional performance.

As for the silver medals for prison social merit, they have been awarded to Fernando Redondo Benito and Luis Enríquez Ruiz Renedo, both in recognition of their outstanding collaboration and commitment to the Penitentiary Institution.

Finally, the two silver medals for prison merit, also awarded in recognition of their outstanding collaboration and commitment to the Penitentiary Institution, have been awarded to Gabriel López López, Javier Martín Fernández and José Miguel Antonlín Mugarza.

The government delegate was accompanied by the deputy delegate in the province of Toledo, Carlos Ángel Devia, the director of the Ocaña II Penitentiary Center, Carmelo Charfolé, the Chief Prosecutor of the Toledo Provincial Court, Antonio Jesús Hulamo, the deputy director of the Ocaña I Penitentiary Center, José Manuel Fernández Gutiérrez and the mayor of the town, Eduardo Jiménez.