Remodelling the rehabilitation and reintegration programs of Lusaka central correctional facility to reduce re-offending

Abstract

Rehabilitation programs are critical for reducing re-offending rates and reintegrating offenders into the community and due to that life and social skills aims to rehabilitate and integrate offenders into the communities where they came from with a purpose of balancing societies and enabling offenders to overcome economic, social and personal challenges that may come their way. Such programs have a great impact on society because education thereof denotes change. This research explores the effect of remodeling rehabilitation programs on sentenced offenders at Lusaka Central Correctional Facility (LCCF). Correctional centers offer various rehabilitation programs with the aim of reducing re-offending and rehabilitating sentenced offenders. The study used a qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate the perception of sentenced offenders changed from being negative to positive after completion of rehabilitation programs and that rehabilitation programs complement the reduction of re-offending. It is recommended that the Department of Correctional Service reintroduce the credit system to reward offenders with academic achievements who show positive attitudes towards rehabilitation and a desire to change. The credit system will make provision for points which leads to a reduction of re-offending and in so doing, encouraging offenders to study. It is further recommended that the Lusaka Central Correctional Facility and Department of Correctional Service should talk to the private companies and other government departments to secure employment opportunities for ex-offenders with scarce skills and who participated in the rehabilitation programs successfully.