Availability of Psychological Counseling Therapy Programs to Offenders at Langata Women Prison in Kenya

Hannah C. Uledi-Moga; Pamela M. Lunjalu; Dennis N. Wamalwa

Hannah C. Uledi-Moga Department of Peace and Conflict Studies School of Humanities of Africa Nazarene University
Pamela M. Lunjalu Department of Psychology, Counsellor, The University of Nairobi, MA Counselling Studies, Durham University (UK), B. Ed, Kenyatta University
Dennis N. Wamalwa Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Kenya, MA Counselling Studies, The University of Manchester (UK)

Keywords: Inmates, prison, program, psychological counselling, therapy

Abstract

Globally the rates of recidivism have been linked to criminal behavior and offender’s mental state. The purpose of this study was to determine the availability of psychological counseling therapy programs to offenders at Langata Women Prison in Kenya. The specific objectives were: to identify the need for psychological counselling services for women prisoners, to establish the mode of delivery of the counselling programs and to assess the effectiveness of the counselling programs offered at Langata women’s prison. The study used descriptive research design focusing on a target population of 856 inmates and 50 prison officers. Stratified and random sampling was used to select 55 from a sample 484 first time offenders, 44 from the initial target of 372 recidivists, and 50 prison officers identified through purposive sampling. Data collection instruments included interview schedule and questionnaires. Coded data was analyzed using SPSS, descriptive statistics for collected data. Cross tabulation was used to analyze categorical data. Descriptive results were presented using tables and figures. Study findings revealed that there exists a big demand for psychological counseling services for inmates in various Kenyan prisons (42%). Group therapy was the most common approach for counseling (42%), majority of prison officers lacked skills in psychological counseling (57%), an indication of the need for more training programs in counseling to equip prison officers with necessary skills in counseling. Effectiveness of the counselling programs generated a mean of 2.5 on a 5-point Lickert scale hence rating the program average. This study recommends that the management of Kenya Prisons ensure that all inmates have access to counseling therapy services; there is a great need to develop a clear policy on psychological counseling therapy programs aimed at guiding how various psychological programs are managed. Similarly, there is need for government policy to allocate more resources towards psychological counseling therapy programs customized on inmates ‘needs

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