Public Perceptions On Community Service Order Programme In Nairobi County: A Case Study Of Makadara Community

Abstract

It has previously been found that imprisonment has little or no effect on deterrence while prisoners lose professional skills, their family life is interrupted and they are at risk of drug abuse and homosexuality or lesbianism. This study sought to assess public perceptions on Community Service Order projects in Nairobi County. The study investigated perceptions on CSO by families with offenders not under CSO and those who have gone through CSO projects. The study also investigated challenges facing the use of Community Service Order projects and interventions for improving Community Service Order Projects. The study site was the Community Service Order Projects within Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi County. The study design used was the qualitative method while cross sectional sampling method and census method were used to sample the families in Makadara. The key informants were selected using purposive sampling method to bring the sample size to 106. The study found that families with offenders who have gone through CSO projects felt that CSO offenders are likely to breach the order due to lack of supervision or income, that they consider CSO as effective and that some victims and local community members are hostile to CSO sentences. They also felt that CSO benefits offenders, community and victims, and that victims and their families are not satisfied with CSO as a sentencing option. Families with offenders not under CSO felt that victims and their families are not satisfied with CSO as a sentencing option and that most offenders sentenced on CSO sentences are likely to breach the order due to lack of supervision or income. The challenges facing the use of CSO projects included an inadequate number of supervising officers leading to lack of proper supervision, lack of agencies where CSO can be done and corruption among stakeholders. Other challenges were lack of fixed place of abode, inadequate collaboration by stakeholders and abscondism. The interventions to improve CSO included linkages with local leadership, shorter CSO sentences, effective supervision and monitoring of CSO and training of collaborators. Increasing personnel implementing CSO, identifying work agencies and providing rehabilitative programmes for offenders are other interventions. Equipping offenders with useful skills, providing startup capital, collaboration among stakeholders and creating public awareness and community sensitization are other interventions. The study recommends the Kenya Government to provide funds for training of collaborators, increasing manpower involved in the implementation of CSO and providing rehabilitative programmes for offenders. The Kenya Government should also provide funds for equipping offenders with useful skills and startup capital.