Desistance
An obvious and eminent goal of a reintegration program is to encourage the offender to desist from crime, and to stop reoffending. “Desistance” refers to the process by which, with or without the intervention of criminal justice agencies, offenders terminate their offending activities and maintain crime-free lives. It is usually achieved after some time. Busia Beyond Crime in collaboration with the community and Korinda Prison in Busia is using Nyumba Kumi in the following ways to prevent recidivism:
- Nyumba Kumi is the structured community where the ex-convict comes from and therefore better placed to prepare a soft landing ground for them. BBC ensures that the Nyumba Kumi representatives frequently visit the convicts in prison when they are about to be released to assure them of a healthy societal reintegration and a conducive environment at home. This process has been effective in that since it was started it has psychologically prepared and definitely given confidence to the former prisoner for effective
- Nyumba Kumi liaises and coordinates with the prisons to prepare the community to positively receive the ex-convict.
- Nyumba Kumi collaborates and coordinates with the law enforcers to ensure the ex-convict does not resort to drug abuse or join groups that are hell-bent on criminal activities and also continues guiding and counseling
- Families of offenders are also stigmatized for the offense. They are seen as guilty by association even though they are legally innocent and generally have had no involvement. The BBC training has enabled Nyumba Kumi to ensure families of ex-convicts do not suffer stigma and other consequences of imprisonment. They work with the government and other stakeholders to facilitate the welfare of the family and the education of the children.
- Gang membership has a high negative effect on the ability of child offenders to successfully reintegrate into the community upon release and increases the likelihood of early recidivism. Nyumba Kumi in this case has addressed crime proactively and therefore, prevented any existence of gangs within the community.
- Public Education through Nyumba Kumi: BBC visualizes that the best way to prevent social stigma that results in recidivism is to be well informed about the risks of reoffending and the benefits of rehabilitation and effective reintegration of ex-convict into the community. When the community is not well informed they will always focus on punishing the ex-convict and leave out the bigger picture of the spiral effect of consequences of recidivism and the benefit a rehabilitated and reintegrated person can bring to society. BBC uses Nyumba Kumi as an avenue to frequently disseminate information to all community members, and protect and give confidence to the returnee.
