The Perception of Prison Inmates' about the Implementation of Rehabilitation Programs in Harari Correction Center: The Case of Harari Region

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the perception of prison inmates' about the implementation of the rehabilitation programs and find some of the challenges that affect its implementation in the Harari Correction Center. The study investigated the difference between female inmates' and male inmates' perception in their rehabilitation services. Descriptive survey study method was used in this study. The sample of the study consisted of 150 prison inmates in Harari Correction Center. The tools used for data collection were questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and discriminant function analysis and two-way ANOVA. The result revealed that differences do exist between rehabilitation services as perceived by female inmates and male inmates. Out of the six-rehabilitation services factors non-criminogenic programs, basic standards of care, and criminogenic programs were found to be significantly higher in female inmates than male inmates' perception. The effect of sex was found to be not statistically significant in psychological adjustment but in social adjustment. Some of the challenges which hinder the implementation of rehabilitation services were lack of adequate budget for diet, sanitation and health; scarcity of well-trained manpower, inappropriate perception of some staff s about inmates. Based on the findings of the study, some recommendations were forwarded.