Influence of Gender on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Recidivists: A Study of Female Inmates in Women’s Prisons in Selected Counties in Western Kenya

Abstract

Women were nearly never mentioned in the history of criminal justice literature, while recidivism is one of the most fundamental concepts in the field. The high rate of female recidivism having resulted in an increasing number of people being jailed and then discharged  back into society, and the high risk of re-arrest, re-incarceration has become a top priority for governments, sociologists, the general public and those included in  correctional facilities. The research took place at three Western Kenya women's prisons: Kakamega Women's Prison, Bungoma Women's Prison, and Busia Women's Prison. The study's overall goal was to look into the influence of gender on female recidivists' rehabilitation and reintegration. The research was based on the following precise goal; to determine the patterns of recidivism among female prisoners in selected counties in western Kenya prisons. The study used a descriptive research approach and was based on gendered route theory and relational theory. Repeat offenders from the respective jail facilities made up the research population. To acquire the desired representation from the study population, purposive selection was performed. For this study, 150 female respondents were chosen from a target population of 240 recidivists. Questionnaires and guidelines for Key Informant Interviews were utilized to collect data. The quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 for windows, and the qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The study emphasizes the importance of introducing alternative rehabilitation approaches such as vocational training for female recidivists having manufacturing, processing, and farming technical talents and abilities. The study provides useful information and identifies a knowledge gap that the Kenyan prisons department and stakeholders would make use of to enhance legislation and rehabilitation techniques for female inmates. Females had a greater rate of recidivism, according to the study. The survey also discovered that the available rehabilitation programs don't really match the demands of the inmates. In addition, failure by the society to accept the female ex-convicts back into the community and to offer  them new opportunities for employment may result in further recidivism.

Keywords: Gender, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, Recidivists, Female inmates

DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/11-8-05

Publication date:October 31^st 2021