WANGARI NJOROGE: Inmates should not feel isolated in prison

Does our prison system offer sufficient rehabilitation to inmates before they get back to the world or does it do more harm than good?

Prisons should not only focus on punishing the offenders but also rehabilitating them so that they can do better if put in situations similar to those they were in while committing crimes.

Putting someone behind bars is supposed to change one for the better, however, a good number of convicts get in and come out on the other side as bullies, murderers, gays and generally worse than they got in.

Rehabilitation should not include humiliation and torture as this may even worsen situations.

Even though a good number make use of the time they serve by learning courses that help them after serving their term, they still interact with the ‘bad’ people hence ruining their morals.

The effects of prison reforms on inmates should be positive.

This kind of rehabilitation should help them live a normal life after being in prison and not harden them to a point of them being cold, emotionless and inhumane.

A major concern in the prisons in Kenya is sexual crimes and sexual harassment.

All inmates have a right to be free from sexual crimes, however, due to the lack of conjugal rights visit advantage, most turn into rapists and tormentors.

This promotes homosexuality considering that they do this in facilities that are either men’s or women’s only.

It is thereafter normalised for favours such as money, food and security against gangs in the facility.

First off, prisons should allow conjugal visits to happen. This way, the inmates can have moments with their loved ones and will prevent them from engaging in sex of the same gender, their fellow inmates.

This will ensure that that family bond is still intact and will keep the prisoner’s emotions alive.

The inmates need to feel loved; a good percentage of prisoners are in for a one-time crime most of which are mistakes.

It is therefore not right to sideline them and term them as criminals. They need to feel loved by the nation, by their fellow inmates and their families.

Love would positively impact their mental well being and as a whole.

It would be important to note that being in prison is not for isolation rather rehabilitation, all hands joined should work to ensure that this is met.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris