The Current Situation of Pastoral Programs in the Prisons in Western Kenya Counties

Abstract

Crime generates underestimated substantial costs to society at the individual, community and national levels. Globally, governments use prisons to contain crime. The criminal justice system has two primary goals: justice and a more prominent goal of preventing future crimes by incapacitation, deterrence, and rehabilitation. Globally, a number of prisons have set up pastoral programs to give inmates realistic plans for their lives, as well as help them overcome shame and guilt and help provide a meaningful human service. This paper examines the current situation of pastoral programs in the prisons in western Kenya Counties. Specifically, the paper examines gender, denomination, educational qualifications, training experiences, salaries, ordination, places of worship, chaplaincy offices, counselling schedule, residential facilities and funding of chaplaincy in the Prisons of Western Kenya Counties. The chaplain-catechists questionnaire was administered to the chaplains and catechists and their responses consisted their background information, roles in rehabilitating inmates, as well as their training and living conditions. The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide was administered to the inmates and officers-in-charge. We conclude that although the Kenya Government has tried to improve on the status of issues raised in chaplaincies, more has to be done to achieve standards that can enable effective chaplaincy in prisons in western Kenya.