Correctional Attitudes:An Impetus for a Paradigm Shift in Inmate Rehabilitation
Augustine Mwangi Gatotoh, Briston .E.E. Omulema, Dankitt Nassiuma
Abstract
The need for correctional reforms from punitive approaches to behaviour change has become apparent in Kenya’s correctional facilities. Correctional facilities are expected to deter recurrence of criminal behaviour by transforming inmates through correctional counselling. This approach has subsequently started to change the correctional officers’ responsibility from solely custodial to rehabilitative, in which officers are expected to manage rehabilitation treatment programmes. This paradigm shift raises a challenge in the execution of the dual role of inmate rehabilitation and incarceration. This study examines correctional attitudes toward the new responsibilities of transforming inmates through correctional counselling detailing the demographic, positional and occupational characteristics that predict the correctional attitudes. The study found out that correctional officers held affirmative attitudes towards correctional counselling and that age and rank were
good predictors of correctional attitudes.
Full Text: PDF