Abstract:
This research investigated the Contribution of Faith Based Activities in rehabilitation of
offenders: Case of Rwanda prison fellowship - Musanze Prison. Generally, it focused on
identifying the different offender rehabilitation faith based programs conducted in Musanze
Prison, their opportunities, and influence to the rehabilitation of offenders in Musanze
Prison. Similarly, this study used a qualitative design and was conducted on a sample of 85
respondents selected by using purposive sampling methods from a population composed of
722 inmates currently attending different Faith Based rehabilitation activities.
The findings of this research have revealed the faith based offender rehabilitation programs
delivered in Musanze Prison focus on cognitive rehabilitation programs and welfare
programs. The cognitive programs include the counseling and psychotherapy, biblical
teaching, socio-healing and reintegration, and peace and reconciliation, while the welfare
programs focus on providing basic needs such as food stuff and other equipments. These
programs contributed greatly to the rehabilitation of offenders mainly through individual
wound healing, the reconciliation with the God, development of a sense of self discipline,
development of the good relationship with other prisoners; shaping the capability of love, help
and solidarity among prisoners, creating and strengthening the ability to apology and
forgiveness, and strengthening the unity and reconciliation between genocide perpetrators
and genocide survivors, and the survival of prisoners.
However, the study findings disclosed some limitations challenging for the smooth running of
faith based offender rehabilitation programs. These include mainly the ineffective integration
of all prisoners in PFR programs due to its methodological approach centered on Christianity
doctrine and principles indirectly marginalizing offenders not believing in Christianity
religion. Other challenges include ineffective running of the rehabilitation programs related
iv
to the welfare due to budget constraints; prisoners‟ lower level of awareness of rehabilitation
programs. and Ineffectiveness running and follow up of the rehabilitation programs due to
the volunteerism nature of Faith Based rehabilitation programs leading staff to feel
unmotivated to work
Considering the research findings, three main recommendations were suggested to: adopt an
integrating framework involving all the prisoners in their respective religious sects, look for
financial support from the different partners that can support welfare programs and staff
incentives, organize awareness campaigns encouraging prisoners to join prison fellowship
programs, and put in place the follow-up mechanisms of rehabilitation programs delivered in
prisons.
