The impact of higher educational programmes in offenders rehabilitation : a penological study

Abstract

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is experiencing recidivism and overcrowding concerns. In this study, the impact of higher education programmes on the rehabilitation of offenders within the South African DCS was examined. The purpose of this research was to explore the impact of higher education programs on offenders’ rehabilitation within correctional facilities. This study used the exploratory method which is used in qualitative research to gain insight into and understand the research questions. Moreover, this study was conducted by analysing literature, observing, and reviewing documents as a form of data collection to compare to other studies conducted internationally and in the SADC region. A comparison was made of the impact of higher education programme on offender rehabilitation in South Africa with that of other countries. The proximity of the impact of higher educational programmes in offenders’ rehabilitation was found to play the greatest role in the reduction of recidivism and overcrowding in correctional facilities. This study definitively answered the research questions regarding the impact of higher educational programmed in offenders’ rehabilitation. The study recommends that correctional rehabilitation that is relevant to detainees – educate inmates on ways to improve their life after release. Correctional education programmes should address the needs and employment opportunities for offenders. More importantly, the government should resuscitate education programmes as a tool of rehabilitation in South African correctional facilities thereby improving the service delivery in our correctional system. Therefore, the DCS should partner with other departments to put wrongdoers whom they finished their education programs in a type of a learnership position in the working environment. Furthermore, the DCS must ensure that the educational programs are developed to align with the reason for which the offenders have been incarcerated. There should be an improvement in the criminal equity framework when handing down the judgment for the guilty party, and the department of correctional services should develop new facilities in order to reduce overcrowding.