Role of family and Community in Reducing Recidivism for a Proper Re-Integration (Presented at the 3rd ACSA Biennial Conference in Maputo Mozambique- July, 2014.) Presenter: Barr. Chinelo Uchendu ABSTRACT: The ever rising rate of recidivism (re-offending) in many jurisdictions has remained a major challenge in the international quest for penal reform. This challenges the notion of the role of prisons and correctional services in providing effective rehabilitation, resettlement and reintegration programme for offenders. Since imprisonment removes the offender from family and community links, no rehabilitation process would be completely successful without effective re-integration processes facilitated by positive and supportive family and community links for prisoners and ex-prisoners. This paper examines the important role that the major instruments of an individual’s socialization –the family and the community- can play in the rehabilitation process of prison inmates; starting from the point of reception into prison to the point of release into the community. It will share experiences learnt from various best practices in town, and discuss some creative initiatives in promoting effective family and community involvements in the treatment of offenders from Nigeria and several African countries. The paper concludes that positive engagement of families and the community is essential for the promotion of effective, comprehensive and sustainable interventions to prevent offending and re-offending behaviour both in the prison and community corrections contexts. In addition to this, it cushions the effects of imprisonment on the prisoner and his/her dependents. In countries with poor social welfare support and economic constraints, the role of family and community becomes magnified. To break circles of criminality within families, substantial focus need to be directed to offenders families and communities. Correctional practitioners need to be supported with capacity building and relevant mechanisms, facilities, and resources to translate this into concrete actions. The beauty is that this provides a win-win scenario for the state, the community, the offenders and their families and the potential victims if re-offending is prevented.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:47:27 +0000
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