The Challenges of Rehabilitation of Ex-prisoners Through Probation Service in Kenya: the Case of Machakos County

Abstract

There has been a big problem of recidivism among criminals in our society despite rehabilitation programs put in place. The study sought to find out the challenges of rehabilitation through probation service in Kenya Machakos County. The objectives of the study was to examine the strategies employed by probation officers in rehabilitating offenders and ensuring their re-settlement and re-integration back to the community, to investigate the role of community members in rehabilitation of offenders, to establish factors affecting rehabilitation of offenders through probation, the study employed non probability sampling to arrive at 60 probationers. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected, organized, categorised, coded and analysed using descriptive statistics. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires The study found out that most respondents were males with formal education. Some of the challenges of rehabilitation of ex- prisoners through probation service in Kenya they indicated were absconding of probation work, offenders performing duties for others, offenders colluding with supervisors to be placed on probation, lack of resources for probation officers. The study found that most offenders in the program were charged with petty offences such as touting, selling alcohol without licence and creating disturbance. Probation is necessary for such offenders to avoid being hardened in prisons The recommendation of the study were that probation department should employ more officers to avoid overworking the few probation officers on the ground. Education and awareness on role of community service and probation to public to dispel negative attitudes towards the program. They also indicated that the government should build functional half way houses to absorb offenders to reconcile offenders with community. This will guarantee the safety of probationers who offended some members of the community who might still be angry and would want to harm them