Effectiveness Of Rehabilitation Programme On Reformation Of Criminal Offenders In Kenya Prisons: A Case Study Of Narok G.K Prison

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of rehabilitation programme on reformation of criminal offenders in GK prisons. The specific objectives of the study were; to find out whether rehabilitation programmes on re-integration are effective in reformation of criminal offenders in Narok G.K Prison, to investigate whether rehabilitation programmes on reduction of recidivism are effective in reformation of offenders in Narok G.K Prison and to determine whether management of rehabilitation centre is effective in reformation of criminal offenders at Narok G.K Prison. The study will be of significance to the penal institutions as its finding will provide relevant insights on effectiveness of current rehabilitation programmes. The study may be relevant to government as it will pinpoint various challenges facing rehabilitation programmes and management in general on their effort in reducing recidivism and successful re-integration of prisoners back to the community. The study also will provide a pool of knowledge for further researches to be conducted on the same. The study used a descriptive research design, where the target population was Narok G.K Prison Rehabilitation Centre and the sample size was 65 respondents. Questionnaire was the main instrument used to collect data and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using frequency tables, percentages and charts. The study found out that inadequate resources as a result of insufficient funding within the prison department have contributed significantly to inefficient rehabilitation of the prisoners leading to reconviction. On the same matter, poor working conditions of the prisons staff lowers their morale making them unable to fully dedicate themselves effectively to their work. This is partly because the same prison officers who are supposed to rehabilitate the prisoners suffer similar fate as the prisoners. The study further found out that positive social support in form of financial and emotional comfort contribute significantly to the reformation of offenders upon release from prison while lack of it makes the offender to give up on the acquired positivity of life through rehabilitation and resort to offending. The study recommends that Narok GK prison management should make positive effort towards improving and maintaining effective rehabilitation programmes in order to attain its main mandate which is to reform the offenders to respectable law abiding citizens.