USING REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RECIDIVISTS IN TAMALE CENTRAL PRISONS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

In spite of the enormous efforts the Ghana government has made to reduce recidivism among ex-convicts, recidivism continues to increase in the country. The study thus aimed at using rehabilitation to reduce recidivism in Tamale Central Prison. The study used both purposive and random sampling procedures to select a sample size of 100 respondents who took part in the study. Data was collected by the use of questionnaires for both primary data and secondary data. The collected data was analysed by the use of SPSS version 20 and Ms Excel version 2007. The study revealed that the lower the socio-economic background of victims, the higher the recidivism. The study discovered that the lower the level of education, the higher the recidivism. The study recommended that there is need to use the bottom-up approach in addressing the problem of recidivism in society by involving prisoners in decision making processes. Also, inmates should be equipped with employable vocational skill so that they can earn a living after serving their jail sentences. It was concluded that the Government and NGOs should support rehabilitation programmes in prisons so as to ensure success of these programmes and therefore reduce re-offending in the country.