CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PS CALLS FOR ADOPTION OF SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OFFENDERS

By Martha Munyambu

Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco has underscored the critical role of Probation and Aftercare Services in the administration of justice, community safety and public protection.

Speaking during a meeting with senior officers drawn from Probation and Aftercare Services, the PS said the success recorded in the country in supporting offenders leaving custodial and non-custodial institutions adjust to normal life, can be attributed in great part, to the efforts of those working in the Probation and Aftercare Services.

She advised the officers to approach their work with seriousness and professionalism by adhering strictly to their mandate even as she urged them to embrace scientific approaches in the management of offenders.

She emphasized the importance of equity in resource and services distribution, urging the officers to ensure balance and fairness in distribution of resources.

She further highlighted on the need to prioritize male-focused rehabilitation efforts, noting that a lot of effort is focused on girls while the boy child remains unattended.

" We must realign our interventions in accordance with global frameworks such as Mandela rules and the Tokyo rules, ensuring gender-sensitive rehabilitation strategies for all offenders," she stressed.

In aligning with the government’s climate and food security agenda, the PS urged the officers to spearhead tree-planting campaigns, especially fruit trees.