This article has review character. Its analysis concentrates on selected programmes of social rehabilitation of prisoners which are realized in polish prisons. Th ese programmes are formed by penitentiary personnel and usually have original project. Th ey allow to overcome the barriers to social rehabilitation of prisoners. Th e author analyses the programmes and projects which are realized in two penitentiary institutions in Podkarpackie Voivodship – in prison for women functioning in Remand Prision in Nisko and in prison for men in Rzeszów-Załęże. Th e starting point of discussion are in this article the main problems of prisoners that hinder them eff ective social rehabilitation and therefore there are the barriers of proper functioning in society aft er leaving the prison. Such problems include fi rst of all the broken or disturbed relationships with family, insuffi cient education, qualifi cations and professional experience, social skills defi cit, passivity and helplessness in the implementation of daily aff airs, abuse of alcohol and drugs, inability to control negative emotions, inability to cope with stress and frustration, inability to build positive relationships with others and on the other hand reluctance to prisoners and their stigmatization in society.