7.5 Social re-integration 7.5.1 Successful reintegration is vital to prevent recidivism and is dependant on a number of factors including the success of rehabilitation and care programmes, the experience an offender has in prison, the effectiveness of the parole and community corrections system and most importantly society's willingness to accept ex- offenders upon their release. All offenders met during the visits complained of the stigma attached to having been incarcerated. Many feel that taking part in work programmes and skills development programmes is of no use, if upon their release, the fact that they had been in prison is held against them and they are unable to secure employment. More should be done to raise awareness among the general public around social reintegration efforts. Both the public and private sectors should be engaged and dissuaded from discriminating against a person who had committed a crime and had served his sentence for it. Continued stigmatisation leads to isolation and eventually recidivism thus continuing the cycle of crime. 7.5.2 Inmates should be encouraged to maintain contact with their families while incarcerated so as to ensure that they have a family support system upon their release. Such a support system is vital to preventing recidivism. The administrative bottleneck limiting visitation at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre should be addressed as a matter of urgency. 7.5.3 Offenders should be discouraged from having their bodies tattooed, especially their faces, hands and arms. Many offenders in both Malmesbury and Pollsmoor correctional centres had elaborate tattoos on areas of their bodies that were visible and it is feared that these 'prison tattoos' will further hamper reintegration.