The Influence of Rehabilitation Programs on Inmate Formation :

Abstract

The study entitled: “The Influence of Rehabilitation Programs on inmate formation.” was conducted at the Luzira Women’s and Murchison bay Prisons. The general objective of the study was: to establish the influence of rehabilitation program on inmate formation in Luzira Prisons. Specifically, four objectives defined the lines of inquiry: to identify the rehabilitation programs offered to the inmates in Luzira Prisons; to determine the proportion of inmate formation and to establish the relationship between rehabilitation programs inmate formation. The cross-sectional descriptive design employed a questionnaire, key informant interview guide and observation tools to collect data that was analyzed using STATA package. A homogeneous sample size of 247 convicted respondents enrolled for and attending the programs consented and participated in the study. The study was successful in meeting the study objectives. The key findings were; educational, social, psychological, vocational, honor and theological rehabilitation programs were offered in the prisons. Of the programs offered to the inmates at Luzira prisons some were reported to be more punitive than rehabilitative. The proportion of inmates that underwent formation was 15.38%. There was a statistically significant relationship between the educational, social and vocational rehabilitation programs and an insignificant relationship between the theological and honor rehabilitation programs. The study concluded that inmate rehabilitation and formation was a complex and multi-dimensional process involving various factors. To reduce criminal behavior and improve inmates’ formation, it was necessary to improve quality of rehabilitation programs to meet the needs of the inmates and improve the prison environment. The major recommendations of the study included deliberate inclusion of rehabilitation and the programs as a goal of imprisonment at the policy level and in the constitution of Uganda and deliberate inclusion of the inmates’ choice in the program enrollment procedure. The study suggested imprisonment and disability among other areas for further study.