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Learning Work Skills on the Outside: Opportunities for self-Development and Reintegration among Former Prisoners in Ghana

Received: 19 February 2014    Accepted:     Published: 30 March 2014
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Abstract

This study focused on the training of two ex-offenders out of three who were employed by the Prison Ministry in Ghana. The instrumental case-study research design was used for this study and the sampling method used was the “unique case selection”. The researcher used in-depth interview which was individually focused as the instrument for data collection. The study revealed that the two former prisoners were tasked to do on-the-job training and it targeted the development of their cognitive skills. This is because their previous knowledge and skills had been eroded through long term of imprisonment. The findings of the study indicated that the trainees acquired knowledge about human-relations and work ethics. Additionally, they developed a sense of self-esteem and they were able to perform their social responsibilities. A further research should be conducted into the Prison Ministry’s role in repairing damaged relationships between former prisoners and their families in Ghana.

Published in Science Journal of Education (Volume 2, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjedu.20140202.11
Page(s) 37-43
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Self-Esteem, Human-Relations, Work-Ethics

References
[1] A Paper presented by the Director General of Ghana Prison Service at the 10th UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders in Austria 10-17 April, 2000
[2] Adams, K. (1992) Adjusting to Prison Life in Crime and Justice: A review of Research, Vol. 16, pp. 275- 359, ed, M. Tonry, Chicago University Press
[3] Adler, P.A. (1992) The Post Phase of Deviant Careers: Reintegrating Drug Traffickers in Deviant Behavior Vol. 13, pp. 103-126
[4] Bonta, J. and Gendreau, P. (1990) Re-examining the Cruel and Unusual Punishment of Prison Life in Law Human Behavior Vol. 14, pp. 347-372
[5] Braithwaite, J. (1978) Unemployment and Adult Crime: An Interpretation of the International Evidence in Proceedings of the Institute of Criminology, No 36 Unemployment and Crime, pp. 54-71
[6] Chiappero-Martinetti, E. (2006) Capability Approach and Fuzzy Set Theory: Description, Aggregation, and Inference Issues.
[7] Coffey, A. and Atkinson, P. (1996) Making Sense of Qualitative Data, London, Sage Publications.
[8] Dissel, A. (2008) “Rehabilitation and reintegration in African Prisons” in Human Rights in African Prisons, Edited by Sarkin, J. HSRC Press Cape Town, South Africa, pp 155-177
[9] Hagan, J. (1993) The Social Embededness of Crime and Unemployment in Criminology Vol. 31, pp. 465-492
[10] Haney, C. (2003) The Psychological Impact of Incarceration: Implication for Post-Prison Adjustment in Prisoners Once Removed: The Impact of Incarceration and Re-entry on Children, Families, and Communities, ed. J Travis, M Waul. Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press
[11] Irwin, J. (1970) The Felon. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall
[12] Murray, J. (2005) “The Effects of Imprisonment on Families and Children of Prisoners” in A. Liebling and S. Maruna (eds). The Effects of Imprisonment. Pp. 442-92. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.
[13] Nelson M, Deess P, Allen C. (1999) The First Month Out: Post-Incarceration Experiences in New York City. Vera Inst. Justice, New York
[14] Pucher, S. (2013) The Efficiency and Effectiveness of Cash Transfers in Human Development: A Case Study of Kenya. PhD Thesis submitted to Faculty of Social Science, Aalborg Universitet.
[15] Richards, L. (2005) Handling Qualitative Data: A Practical Guide, London, Sage Publications.
[16] Ritchie, J. Lewis, J. Elam, G. (2008) “Designing and Selecting Samples” in Ritchie, J. and Lewis, J. (eds) Qualitative Research Practice: A guide for Social Science Students and Researchers, London: Sage Publications.
[17] Ross, J.I. and Richards, S.C. (2002) Convict Criminology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
[18] Sampson R J, Laub J H. (1993) Crimes in the Making: Pathways and Turning Points Through Life. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
[19] Samuels, P. Mukamal, D. and Stevens, T. (2002) State Legal Barriers Affecting Individuals with Criminal Records. Presented at Re-entry Roundtable: Prison. Re-entry Institute. Washington, DC
[20] Sen, A. (1992) Inequality Re-examined, Oxford: Claredon Press.
[21] Smith, D.M. and Woodbury, S.A. (1999) Low-wage Labour Markets: The Business Cycle and Regional Differences.
[22] Stake, R. E. (1995) The Art of Case Study Research, Thousand Oaks, California, Sage Publication.
[23] The Prison Ministry of Ghana (2003) The Prison Ministry.
[24] Travis, J. Solomon, A.L. Waul, M. (2001) From Prison to Home: The Dimensions and Consequences of Prisoner Re-entry. Urban Institute, Washington, DC
[25] Uggen, C. Manza, J. and Behrens, A. (2003) Stigma, Role Transition, and the Civic Reintegration of Convicted Felons in After Crime and Punishment: Ex-offender Reintegration and Desistence from Crime, ed. S. Maruna, R. Immarigeon. New York: State University NY Press
[26] Western B, Kling JR, Weiman D. (2001) The Labour Market Consequences of Incarceration in Crime Delinquency Vol. 47, pp. 410-427
[27] White, R. (1994) The Making of a Youth Underclass, in Youth Studies Australia, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 17-22
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Alex Kortey Addo. (2014). Learning Work Skills on the Outside: Opportunities for self-Development and Reintegration among Former Prisoners in Ghana. Science Journal of Education, 2(2), 37-43. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20140202.11

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    ACS Style

    Alex Kortey Addo. Learning Work Skills on the Outside: Opportunities for self-Development and Reintegration among Former Prisoners in Ghana. Sci. J. Educ. 2014, 2(2), 37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.sjedu.20140202.11

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    AMA Style

    Alex Kortey Addo. Learning Work Skills on the Outside: Opportunities for self-Development and Reintegration among Former Prisoners in Ghana. Sci J Educ. 2014;2(2):37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.sjedu.20140202.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjedu.20140202.11,
      author = {Alex Kortey Addo},
      title = {Learning Work Skills on the Outside: Opportunities for self-Development and Reintegration among Former Prisoners in Ghana},
      journal = {Science Journal of Education},
      volume = {2},
      number = {2},
      pages = {37-43},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjedu.20140202.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20140202.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjedu.20140202.11},
      abstract = {This study focused on the training of two ex-offenders out of three who were employed by the Prison Ministry in Ghana. The instrumental case-study research design was used for this study and the sampling method used was the “unique case selection”. The researcher used in-depth interview which was individually focused as the instrument for data collection. The study revealed that the two former prisoners were tasked to do on-the-job training and it targeted the development of their cognitive skills. This is because their previous knowledge and skills had been eroded through long term of imprisonment. The findings of the study indicated that the trainees acquired knowledge about human-relations and work ethics. Additionally, they developed a sense of self-esteem and they were able to perform their social responsibilities. A further research should be conducted into the Prison Ministry’s role in repairing damaged relationships between former prisoners and their families in Ghana.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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    AB  - This study focused on the training of two ex-offenders out of three who were employed by the Prison Ministry in Ghana. The instrumental case-study research design was used for this study and the sampling method used was the “unique case selection”. The researcher used in-depth interview which was individually focused as the instrument for data collection. The study revealed that the two former prisoners were tasked to do on-the-job training and it targeted the development of their cognitive skills. This is because their previous knowledge and skills had been eroded through long term of imprisonment. The findings of the study indicated that the trainees acquired knowledge about human-relations and work ethics. Additionally, they developed a sense of self-esteem and they were able to perform their social responsibilities. A further research should be conducted into the Prison Ministry’s role in repairing damaged relationships between former prisoners and their families in Ghana.
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Author Information
  • University of Ghana, Legon. Institute of Continuing and Distance Education, Accra, Ghana

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