A study into the causes of recidivism in Kenya: the case of inmates in Machakos main Prison

Abstract

Prisons are places for rehabilitation where prisoners on release are expected to live as law abiding citizens. As such, this study attempted to establish the causes of recidivism amongst inmates of Machakos Main Prison in Kenya. It was guided by the following specific objectives; to establish personal factors that influence recidivism in Machakos main prison in Kenya, to determine institutional factors that influence recidivism in Machakos main prison in Kenya and to investigate community factors that influence recidivism in Machakos main prison in Kenya. The study employed a descriptive research design. Data was collected by use of primary and secondary sources, and SPSS version 22 tool was used for presentation through descriptive form. The findings showed that 55% of the respondents were married while 20%, 18%, 13% and 5% of the respondents were single, widowed, divorced and separated respectively. It found that 90% of the respondents in Machakos Main Prison were Christians and 65% of them committed the of ence while within the County. The study showed that most respondents did not go to their rural home on release. The study also showed that respondents encountered assault, exploitative sex and rape, drug use and theft while in prison. The study recommends that prisons policy makers professionalise prisons training so that rehabilitation and vocational programmes are in tandem with the interests of the individual inmate for them to obtain skills to facilitate employment or engagement in self-employment on release.