Contribution of faith based activities in rehabilitation of offenders : case of Rwanda prison fellowship - Musanze prison.

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.