Exploring the Influence of Correctional Education on Prisoners’ Attitudes toward Crime and Career Aspirations: A Phenomenological Study of Nsawam Medium Security Prison in Ghana (Published)
This study explores the influence of correctional education on inmates’ attitudes toward crime and career aspirations at Nsawam Medium Security Prison in Ghana. Grounded in Transformative Learning Theory, the research examined how educational experiences within a correctional context affect inmates’ cognitive, behavioural, and vocational orientations. A qualitative phenomenological case study design was employed to capture the lived experiences of incarcerated learners. Using purposive sampling technique, fifteen participants—including current and former students of senior high school and ICT programs—were selected from the Reformers Educational Centre within the prison. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, then analyzed thematically using MaxQDA software. Findings revealed that correctional education significantly contributed to positive behavioural change and redefined career aspirations. Inmates reported a shift away from criminal behaviour, increased motivation for law-abiding living, and aspirations toward continued education, entrepreneurship, and civic responsibility. Educational engagement was perceived as both rehabilitative and transformative, fostering self-reflection, psychological empowerment, and identity reconstruction. However, challenges such as institutional stigma and limited access to formal learning structures persisted. The study underscores the potential of correctional education as a catalyst for desistance from crime and as a tool for rehabilitation and reintegration. It recommends the institutionalization of prison education, integration of psychosocial support, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to enhance program delivery and post-release outcomes. These findings contribute to global discourses on prison reform by reinforcing the role of correctional education in promoting sustainable behavioural change and social reintegration among incarcerated population.
Keywords: Crime, Prisoners, attitude, career aspirations, correctional education, medium security prison
Extent of Educational, Vocational and Personal-Social Guidance Needs of Some Selected Prison Inmates in Ghana. (Published)
The study investigated the extent of guidance needs of some selected prison inmates in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana so as to establish how guidance could effectively be practiced in prisons. Descriptive survey design and a combination of convenience, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used for the study. Three (3) prison institutions were conveniently sampled for study while One hundred (100) prison inmates consisting of 85 males and 15 females were randomly and purposively sampled respectively for study. Data for the study was collected via questionnaire (Cronbach’s Alpha = .611). The data was analyzed descriptively and presented in tables as frequency counts and percentages. Independent sample test was used to determine whether the extent of educational, vocational and personal-social guidance needs of male prisoners differed from female prisoners. It was found that both male and female inmates needed educational guidance to a little extent but needed vocational and personal social guidance to a large extent. Significant differences were found between the educational, vocational and personal-social needs between the male and female inmates. It was recommended among others that, the expressed educational, vocational and personal-social guidance needs of prison inmates should be provided to ensure their proper rehabilitation and integration into society upon their release.
Keywords: Educational, Guidance Needs, Personal-Social, Prisoners, Vocational