Students’ Perspective on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Female Prisoners

Abstract

The needs of female prisoners are always given least priority. Covington (1998) stated that women were neglected and misunderstood and Coll et al (1998) stated that services and ideas concerning women prisoners remain modeled on those for men. There are shortcomings in almost all prison systems in meeting the gender-specific needs of female prisoners. Their needs are ignored because of the minority status. A qualitative approach was used to understand students’ perspective on rehabilitation and reintegration of female prisoners. A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was done on a sample of 10 willing post graduate female students of Criminology and Forensic Science aged 21–24 years. Results were analyzed using narratives. The objectives were threefold: (a) to understand the problems faced by female prisoners, (b) obstacles in rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, and (3) ways to better implement them. Students’ perceptions on the rehabilitation and reintegration of female prisoners were focused on the lacunae in this area. The narratives reported gender inequality and mental imbalance as problems faced by female prisoners. The study has implications for human rights activists, mental health professionals and criminal jurisprudence to be more humane, ethical and gender sensitive in practice.