Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Programmes in Management of Juvenile Delinquency within Penal Institutions in Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

Juvenile crime is a major concern Worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes in management of juvenile delinquency within penal institutions in Kakamega County, Kenya. The study was guided by social learning theory. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively and presented in form of figures and tables. A total of 335 respondents were sampled. They included 279 juveniles, 36 key informants, 10 relapsed juveniles and 10 reformed juveniles. Purposive sampling was used to sample key informants and random sampling was used for   committed juveniles. Snowball sampling was used for relapsed juveniles and convenience sampling was used for reformed juveniles. Primary data was collected by use of questionnaires, interviews, FGDs and observation checklists records. It was established that juveniles were taken through vocational training, guiding and counseling and formal education programmes. Rehabilitation process was not successful at (94.7%). Rehabilitation programmes were affected by the physical and human environment at (74%). Lack of after care services hindered the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes at (43.0%). It was also revealed that rehabilitation programmes in juvenile penal institutions do not successfully reform the juvenile offenders.  The study concluded that the current rehabilitation programmes had a negative impact on juveniles.