An Examination of the Effect of Skills Imparted to Recidivists on Their Re-Integration into the Community

Abstract

Ineffective operation of rehabilitation programmes in prison has made ex-convicts unable tore-integrate successfully into the community. The process of imparting skills through entrepreneurship programmes is a move intended to achieve successful reintegration of ex-prisoners into the community. Re-integration refers specifically to interventions designed to help offenders who have been incarcerated to be accepted by the community after their release. This paper discusses the relationship between skills imparted to recidivists and their reintegration into the community. Logistic regression analysis was used with a sample size of 253 respondents selected from Tabora, Dar es Salaam and Morogoro in Tanzania. The research found that prisoners were well prepared for normal life back to the community but vocational skills acquired were informal hence limited the success of reintegration.  The study recommends more research to be directed to the role of prison rehabilitation programmes in imparting formal skills to prisoners in order to promote successful re-integration as well as transforming inmates into resourceful and loyal citizens.