Assessment of Rehabilitation Programs and Reformation of Inmates at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, Nairobi City County, Kenya
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Date
2024-10
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Rehabilitation is the process of retraining inmates to get into gainful activities that will deter them from crime in future. The number of individuals detained globally, and the global incarceration rate continues to rise across all geographical areas raising questions about the effectiveness of rehabilitation among prisoners. Despite ongoing rehabilitation in Kenyan Prisons and the Government’s effort toward rehabilitating offenders, the reoffending rate keeps increasing. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to find out whether rehabilitation programs in prison facilities rehabilitate offenders and, if not, why and what needs to be done to ensure adequate rehabilitation of offenders in Kenya. The following research objectives guided the study; to analyze the types of rehabilitation programs; examine the challenges facing rehabilitation programs; and finally establish possible solutions to the challenges facing rehabilitation programs in Kenya. Guided by rehabilitation theory, the study employed a descriptive survey research design, which helped to describe and portray the characteristics of inmates. Moreover, it employed both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Cluster sampling was used to determine the sample size with the target population of study being the inmates from Kamiti Maximum Prison, Nairobi City, Kenya. Data was analyzed quantitatively through frequencies and percentages using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) tool, and the findings were presented through tables, charts and graphs. The study identified rehabilitation programs for prisoners' reformatory discipline, including education programs, religious studies, and carpentry among several others. The study established that despite exposure to these reformatory programs, recidivism rates in Kenya remained high due to a range of factors, including mental and emotional trauma, societal discrimination, poor health, and overcrowding. The study makes several recommendations, including establishing aftercare committees to consider programs that review of long-term sentences to release rehabilitated inmates from prison. The study also recommends for the constitution of a team of career development officers who will develop better training policies for inmates and prison officers, introduce an effective payment system for technical jobs in prison, develop a strategy to stop the infiltration of drugs into prison, equip the prison programs with updated technologies in the actual job market, invest in facilities that ease congestion and improve health care offered in prison and recommend reviewed salary for prison officers. The study recommends that future studies should not primarily focus on rehabilitation of male inmates alone but female inmates too. By comparing data between male and female rehabilitation programs, policy makers can identify ways of increasing the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. Understanding the future impact of the crime will facilitate the transformation of the criminal justice system and disrupt the persisting trends of crime.
Description
A Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Security Management and Police Studies in the School Of Law, Arts and Social Science, Kenyatta University, October, 2024
Supervisor:
1.Cyprian Kavivya