'Inmates Judge You, But You Show Them Empathy'

Zakiya Zeba Maqbool is a senior psychologist who leads inmate rehabilitation at the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) headquarters in Suva.

In 2021, she started as a psychologist in the Central Eastern Division and led five institutions, including the Levuka, Nasinu, and Suva Corrections Centres.

Her work focused on the mental and psychological well-being of staff and those incarcerated, and developing rehabilitation programmes.

Today, Ms Maqbool oversees more than 2000 inmates and the counsellors and psychologists across 13 institutions.

She provides counselling sessions, conducts classes with inmates and trains FCS officers and her rehab team.

Ms Maqbool works with a team of six to seven people, including counsellors and project officers.

No day is ever the same in her position.

She could be dealing with inmates of varying ages and ethnicities, with different convictions and at different corrections centres.

And as a woman, her job poses unique challenges, but it's a role she fully embraces.

"As a woman going into a male prison, I have to know where my boundaries are," Ms Maqbool said.

"I'm not an officer or a uniformed staff member. I'm a civilian psychologist... so that brings a different perspective.

"Inmates judge you, but you are there to show them empathy. My role is not to judge an inmate based on their sentence or criminal background, but rather empathise and help them. If people on the outside judge them, what good does it do when I do the same thing?"

Sometimes, inmates would refuse to speak to a female or refuse rehabilitation because they are convinced the justice system wronged them.

Changing mindsets

She often tells inmates to put their past behind them because, by changing their mindset, they could live differently outside of prison.

"Whatever happened has happened. I tell them, 'You are here. I'm trying to reform and help you so people can accept you when you leave here," she said.

"We try to help them regain their confidence and build that trust again."

From petty and civil cases to drug-related convictions and serious sexual offences, Ms Maqbool interacts with inmates with complex pasts and oftentimes little hope.

While the responsibility can weigh heavily, her heart to make a difference in their lives is stronger.

"They give me peace when I see a smile on their face. Prison may not be a home, but it can be a space where transformation and rehabilitation begin."

• (In the lead-up to the Yellow Ribbon Walk on July 19, Fiji Sun will spotlight the inspiring stories of individuals working to make a difference in their community. This is Part 2 in the series.)

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