Effectiveness of Counselling on Rehabilitation of Non -Custodial Offenders in Selected Probation Stations in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Offenders who participate in rehabilitation programs have the opportunity to get the knowledge and skills they need to become productive members of society again. In Kenya, non-custodial correctional treatments, such therapy, are more successful than incarceration for dealing with most offenders. Unfortunately, there is a lack of information about the effectiveness of counselling as an intervention technique for Kenyan criminals serving non-custodial sentences. We set out to accomplish several things with this research: first to examine types of counselling services provided to offenders serving non-custodial sentences in selected Probation stations in Nairobi County, to assess influence of counselling intervention in the rehabilitation of offenders serving non-custodial sentences in selected Probation stations in Nairobi County, to investigate accessibility of counselling services for offenders serving non-custodial sentences in selected Probation stations in Nairobi County and to evaluate challenges in implementing counselling services among non-custodial offenders and possible solutions.. Person-centred Theory and Cognitive Behavioural Theory (CBT) served as the theoretical frameworks for the research. This investigation made use of a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. A total of 444 probationers from various probation stations in Nairobi County, as well as 37 counsellors from those stations (10 men and 27 females), were the intended participants in the research. Each of the 37 probation officers was chosen using a census-style selection method. The Yamane formula was used to determine that 210 probationers would constitute the sample size. The data was gathered by means of an interview and a questionnaire. Counsellors and non-custodial offenders undergoing probation service orders were both given a questionnaire to fill out. The director of probation services in Nairobi County as well as the regional coordinator were interviewed. Information was collected, examined, and verified to ensure precision and understandability. In a probation station in Kiambu County, the instruments were pre-tested. While the station manager examined the in-depth interview guide, ten probationers and two probation officers were given the surveys. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used to code, input, and analyse the numerical data obtained from surveys. The quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS and presented in frequency tables, while the qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Afterward, the findings from both methods were integrated into the study's final report. The data analysis for both methods was done independently, but they were both aligned with the main objectives of the study, ensuring that the qualitative data complemented and enriched the quantitative findings. The department of Probation and Aftercare service whose officers rehabilitate non-custodial offenders and the Ministry and Public Service Commission (PSC) that hires public servants in Kenya shall benefit from this work .Judiciary, the referral point for all non-custodial offenders and the police who enforce law and order too will benefit from the findings. The study found that individual counselling, psycho-education, family counselling, and group counselling supported behavioural change, crime control, and reintegration. Counselling changed offenders’ attitudes, reduced reoffending, and promoted self-sufficiency. Despite general accessibility, discrepancies in perceptions emerged. Challenges included inadequate facilities, limited specialized counsellors, insufficient training, and resource constraints. The study recommended specialized officer training, partnerships with private counsellors, more counselling centres, increased resources, and adherence to international standards like the Tokyo Rules.