Browsing by Author "Bwanasafi, Muhesi Arsene"

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    Multi-Factorial Dynamics and Criminal Recidivism in Munzenze Prison, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic Of Congo
    (Kenyatta University, 2024-06) Bwanasafi, Muhesi Arsene
    Many countries around the world are confronted with the challenge of recidivism. Recidivism has become a global phenomenon that challenges the efficiency of both criminal justice systems and security systems. One of the most important measures of the efficiency of prison programs is the reduction of recidivism rate. Meant to rehabilitate convicts, prisons play an important role within the criminal justice. By exploring multi-factorial dynamics of criminal recidivism in Munzenze prison, this study is a package of knowledge and solution on personal, institutional, and societal risk factors of criminal recidivism in Munzenze prison. The following objectives guided this study; to investigate personal factors that influence criminal recidivism in Munzenze prison; to examine institutional factors contributing to criminal relapse of offenders in Munzenze prison, and to interrogate societal factors contributing to criminal recidivism in Munzenze prison. The study was guided by reformation theory of punishment to analyze institutional factors which may cause recidivism, labeling theory of crime to explain societal factors that may be responsible recidivism, and social learning theory to analyze individual factors. This study adopted Exploratory Sequential design using mixed method approach. The target population consisted of 1089 recidivists in Munzenze Prison, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The target population also included prison officers, religious leaders and civil actors. A sample of 100 recidivists was drawn for questionnaires and focus group discussions, while prison officers, religious leaders and civil actors participated as key informants. Questionnaires, focus group discussions guides, and key informant interviews schedules were used as data collection instruments. Qualitative data was thematically analyzed using content analysis and presented as quoted verbatim. While quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using percentages, tables, average and mean, and pie charts. The study found that institutional, societal and individual factors played a critical role in recidivism. The study concluded that lack of prison rehabilitation program in Munzenze, unemployment, ineffective reintegration and stigmatization were important determinants of recidivism. Additionally, the study recommends addressing the institutional, societal and individual issues that fuel recidivism. As a result, this study offers important new insights into the complex problem of criminal recidivism in Munzenze prison and offers a strategy for overcoming this urgent issue. It also emphasizes the crucial role that rehabilitation and societal support play in ending the cycle of repeat offending.
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    Personal Factors that Influence Criminal Recidivism among Recidivists in Munzenze Prison, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
    (International Journal of Advanced Multidiscipliary Research and Studies, 2024) Bwanasafi, Muhesi Arsene; Oyombra, George
    Many countries around the world are confronted with the challenge of recidivism. Recidivism has become a global phenomenon that challenges the efficiency of both criminal justice systems and security systems. One of the most important measures of the efficiency of prison programs is the reduction of recidivism rate. Meant to rehabilitate convicts, prisons play an important role within the criminal justice. By exploring personal factors that influence criminal recidivism in Munzenze prison. This study adopted Exploratory Sequential design using mixed method approach. The target population consisted of 1089 recidivists in Munzenze Prison, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The target population also included prison officers, religious leaders and civil actors. A sample of 100 recidivists was drawn for questionnaires and focus group discussions, while prison officers, religious leaders and civil actors participated as key informants. Questionnaires, focus group discussions guides, and key informant interviews schedules were used as data collection instruments. Qualitative data was thematically analyzed using content analysis and presented as quoted verbatim. While quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using percentages, tables, average and mean, and pie charts. The study found that personal factors such as marital status influence criminal recidivism among recidivists in Munzenze Prison. For example, 86% were single, 8% were separated, 1% were widowed, and none were divorced. But among those who were single, around half of them had children. The study concluded that, the overwhelming responsibilities of a family when an individual is not in an employment, predisposes one to engage in crime to get proceeds to utilize on the family. The study recommended that, there should be a creation and implementation of a comprehensive rehabilitation programs within the Munzenze prison system that address the personal factors contributing to recidivism. These programs should focus vocational training, and education to equip inmates with skills and coping mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of reoffending