The Impact of the Rehabilitation Programmes of the Nsawam Prisons on its Inmates

Abstract

There have been debates about the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes worldwide. While some studies have asserted that prison rehabilitation programmes are effective in reducing recidivism, others have argued that treatment programmes are not able to decrease the rate of re-offending. This study situated the debate in Ghana by exploring the various vocational and educational programmes of the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons and the impact of these programmes on the inmates who enrolled in them. Ten (10) key officials knowledgeable in the various rehabilitation programmes were interviewed while 134 inmates who were recidivists were covered in the study. The study revealed that vocational and educational programmes were the main rehabilitation programmes in the Nsawam Prisons. The study further revealed that an ex-convict’s standard of living is not dependent on the participation of a vocational training programme while in prison. Additionally, it was revealed that ex-convicts’ acquisition of jobs in the wider society upon discharge is not influenced by the type of rehabilitation programmes that they enrolled in. Further, it was evident that there is an association between participating in a rehabilitation programme and the chances of committing economic crimes upon discharge. Based on the findings, it is recommended that more competitive vocational programmes must be introduced in order to make inmates more marketable so that they will earn more income from their vocations. The law forbidding ex-convicts from being employed in public institutions should be reviewed. The public education on the need to accept ex-convicts should be continued. This will ensure that ex-convicts are not stigmatized.