An Assessment of the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services for Young offenders: A Case study of Whawha Young Offenders’ Prison, Gweru
- Author
- January, Chantelle. L
- Title
- An Assessment of the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services for Young offenders: A Case study of Whawha Young Offenders’ Prison, Gweru
- Abstract
- Given that the young people in Zimbabwe are capable of offending as much as adults and some of them are recidivist which is a phenomenon that can be addressed through rehabilitation and reintegration efforts, this ought to get the attention of scholars. However, there is a void in literature in relation to the rehabilitation and reintegration services available to young offenders in Zimbabwe. This study sought to access the rehabilitation and reintegration services for young offenders at Whawha Young Offenders’ prison, Gweru. The objectives of the study were to access the nature of crimes committed by young offenders, the forms of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes at Whawha ‘Young Offenders’ Prison and measures that can be implemented in order to strengthen these programmes. The study triangulated the quantitative and the qualitative research approach. The data was collected from 12 young persons detained at Whawha Young Offenders’ Prison and 2 key informants, using questionnaires and key informant interviews. The study found that young people are capable of committing the same crimes as adults though they have the advantage of getting lenient criminal justice procedures through the pre-trial diversion programme and occasional presidential pardons for those with sentences less than 12 months. The study also highlighted that the inmates have access to rehabilitation programmes that allows for their overall human development, consisting of education, vocational training, moral rehabilitation, psycho-social support and sports and recreation programmes. It was also revealed by the study that there is a gap in the reintegration efforts as there limited which in turn renders the rehabilitation efforts useless. Premised on the study findings the study recommended that there is need for the development a framework that guide the administration of rehabilitation and reintegration efforts in the criminal justice
- Date
- 2023
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services
- Young offenders
- Supervisor
- N/A
- Item sets
- Department of Social Work
