Abstract:
ABSTRACT
The main aim of this study was to identify and analyse the role that chaplaincy services in prison play in the reahbilitation and reformation of offenders in the penal intitutions, In addition the study sort to find out challenges that affects prison chaplaincy in their efforts to rehabilitate the prisoners and deriver other services. In the process the study came up with recommendations that would help solve these challenges. The other purpose of the study was to identify appropriate training that has been or could be adopted to improve rehabilitation, reformation and reintergration of prisoners.
The study applied both qualitative and quantitative methodas of data collection and analysis. In-depth interviews, questionnaires and observation were employed on the research in order to gather detailed and valid data for the study. The secondary data was acquired through the various books, journals, revised articles and other relevant sources. Data was transcribed and analzed on thematic approaches and presented in descriptive statistics such as tables, frequencies, charts and percentages.
The study found that chaplaincy played a vital role in rehabilitation. Prisona administration was found to be harsh and authoritarian whileas chaplainy was seen as more humane hence more effective in rehabilitation. Chaplaincy was seen to offers pschological and spiritual comfort and support to prisoners and led them to hold on to humane behaviour. However, many challenges affect the effectiveness of chaplaincy the main ones being; lack of set schedule of work, poor prison conditions, lack of training and skills and lack of resources. Training programs can be introduced to both chaplains and prisoners to ensure that rehabilitation in prisons is improved. The government should provide more resouces in term of facilities, proffesssionals, training and funding to ensure that the objectives of prisons in Kenya to rehabilitate and reintagrate offenders into law abiding citizens is achieved.
