Implication of Rehabilitation Programs on Juvenile Delinquency in Rwanda: Case Study of Iwawa Rehabilitation Centre

Abstract

This research investigated the Implication of Rehabilitation Programs on Juvenile Delinquency in Rwanda: Case Study of Iwawa Rehabilitation Centre. Generally, it focused on identifying the predominant risk factors to juvenile delinquency, the rehabilitation programs into force and put their subsequent effectiveness. Similarly, this study used a qualitative designs and was conducted on a sample of 45 respondents selected by using purposive and non-proportional stratified sampling methods from a population composed of 50 persons including 45 Juvenile delinquents and 5 staff from the National rehabilitation Service, Rwanda National Police, Iwawa rehabilitation Centre, Local Administration, and Kigali Transit Center. The findings of this research have identified five predominant risk factors to juvenile delinquency in Rwanda. Three of them lower level of education; poverty and unemployment’; and dysfunctional families were rated 79.99%; followed by the substance abuse and violence marked 20.1% of respondents. Considering these risk factors, two categories of rehabilitation programs were adopted: Remedial cognitive rehabilitation programs (Civic Education, programs related to the values of Rwandan Culture.); and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs. Generally, the effectiveness of these programs to the rehabilitation of offender was reported to be positive. However, the study findings found out some weak areas that need improvement. These are: the conduct of the training by adjusting the training methodology, review of training materials and schedules, adopt an effective screening system of rehabilitees based on rehabilitee needs, implementation of reintegration and aftercare programs to graduated rehabilitees, adjust the ratio of trainers of both trainers and rehabilitees. Considering the research findings, three main recommendations were suggested: to review the training programs and adapt to the needs of the rehabilitees, to adapt an effective selection system of rehabilitees, effectively enforce rehabilitees aftercare programs and put in place appropriate follow up system and training validation of the entre training process.