FACTORS INFLUENCING PERFORMANCE OF PRISONERS’ REINTEGRATION PROGRAMMES: A CASE OF WOMEN PRISONERS IN MERU GOVERNMENT OF KENYA PRISON, MERU COUNTY, KENYA
Mary Makena Mutabari - Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. John M. Wanjohi - University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Offenders released from confinement face a variety of challenges that may hinder their ability to become law-abiding citizens. A key feature of successful reintegration is the attention to the reintegration programmes for ex-prisoners into the community and the development of interventions designed to reduce the levels of recidivism. The purpose of this study was to establish factors influencing performance of prisoner’s reintegration programmes focusing on women prisoners in Meru Gk prison. The study sought to determine the influence of capacity of prison officers, employment opportunities, substance abuse, and education programmes on performance of prisoner’s reintegration programmes among women prisoners in Meru Women Gk prison. The study is grounded on relapse prevention theory, supported by the empowerment theory and the public participation theory. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The target population for this study comprised of all the 1259 inmates and 317 officers in the prison according to prison records. The sample size for the study was 309. Primary data was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. Further, the study used simple random sampling to pick the respondents in each stratum. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 22.0). Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean score and standard deviation were estimated for all the quantitative variables and information presented inform of tables. The qualitative data from the open-ended questions was analyzed using conceptual content analysis and presented in prose form. The findings show that capacity of prison officers, employment opportunities, substance abuse and prison education programmes greatly influence performance of prisoner’s reintegration programme. The study recommended there should be adequate budgetary allocation of resources to various GK prisons which will in turn lead to efficient reintegration programmes. This should also lead to efficient reintegration programmes. An improved Scheme of Service and Establishment Structure for the Prisons Department needs to be put in place to facilitate the recruitment, promotion and retention of adequate and relevantly trained/skilled personnel.
