ABSTRACT

This study sets out to examine the role of capacity building programs in the rehabilitation of and desistance amongst minor inmates in Cameroon prisons and reformation centers. The research made use of both quantitative and qualitative approaches to grant expression to the subjective and objective dimensions of the research. A qualitative analysis formed the basis of this study, which uses the ontological and epistemological considerations as an interpretivist framework while the quantitative approach was used to disaggregate the findings. The findings revealed that, there exist three categories of rehabilitation amongst the factors that predisposed adolescents to crime, family structure, individual characteristics and societal/neighborhood characteristics stood out. The findings also suggest that the pessimistic “nothing works” attitude toward rehabilitation that helped justify punitive prison policies as exhibited by warders and educators is a major hinderance to effective rehabilitation. This mindset affects the level of commitment and contributions that these correction officers (warders and trainers) are ready to put in and hence productivity. The findings also demonstrated the power of the prison environment to shape behavior, often to the detriment of both prisoners and prison workers. Data generated by this research also presents crime and deviance as a masculine phenomenon, with gendered socialization being the bedrock of this disparity. In conclusion, prisons as correctional institutions cannot effectively serve as transformation centers for effective rehabilitation and desistance because they do not embody the criteria of an effective learning environment. There is therefore the need to constructively synchronize correction, discipline and  learning to achieve desired outcome-rehabilitation and desistance.

Keywords: Transformative Encounters, Minors, Prisons, Reformation Centers, Rehabilitation, Desistance.

1.2 Research Questions

Based on the research objectives, the study attempts to answer the following questions

• What are the different capacity building structures and programs available to minor inmates in the selected prisons and reformation centers.
• How effective are the capacity building programs, rehabilitation and desistance amongst minor inmates.
• What are the factors that undermine the effectiveness of these capacity building programs in rehabilitation and desistance.

1.2.1 Research Objectives

1.2.2 General Objective of the study

This study examines the role of capacity building programs in rehabilitation and desistance amongst minor inmates in selected prisons and reformation centres in Cameroon

1.2.3 Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of this study include;

• To identify the different capacity building programs available to minor inmates in the selected prisons and reformation centers;
• To examine the effectiveness of the identified capacity building programs in rehabilitation and desistance amongst minor inmates;
• To determine the factors that undermine the effectiveness of capacity building programs in rehabilitation and desistance;