The role of prison criminogenic experience and social stigma towards criminal recidivism: A qualitative approach

• Main Authors: Ahmed, Aminu Musa, Ahmad, Abd Halim
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: HM Sociology
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/17102/1/6.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/17102/
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

Prison institution and its experiences together with the stigmatization of offenders in the society are one of the contemporary issues that are associated with criminal re-offending (recidivism).The objective of this study is to examine the role of prison criminogenic experience and social stigma of ex-prisoners towards criminal recidivism.The study utilized qualitative approach in order to examine such roles.Data was collected among six ex-prisoners using in-depth interview and purposive sampling method was used as sampling strategy.Narrative analysis technique was adapted and used in analyzing the data collected. The findings of the qualitative data revealed that both prison criminogenic experience as well as the stigmatization of the ex-prisoners in the society after their release is contributing immensely towards the behaviors of the ex-offenders. That is, their experiences within the institution and outside the prison wall can induce them into their previous or new criminal activities, thereby creating an avenue for them to become criminal recidivists. Thus, by implication, the study established that, the institution of prison specifically its criminogenic tendencies has a negative consequences towards criminal recidivism and also, the societal reaction on the ex-prisoners by stigmatizing them in the society has a negative consequences towards their criminal re-offending.The study therefore concluded that both the institution (prison criminogenic experience) and the societal reaction towards the ex-prisoners (stigmatization) are having a greater role in determining the eventual criminal re offending of the ex-prisoners.