Relationship Between Level of Schooling and Incarceration Among Inmates of Kamiti and Langata Maximum Prisons in Kenya
Keywords:
Level of schooling, Incarceration, Inmate, Crime, Human capitalAbstract
The role of education as a human capital investment cannot be underpinned since it increases future legitimate work opportunities. Individuals optimally choose how much time to allocate each period to investment in human capital, legitimate work, and crime to maximize their expected lifetime outcome. Despite the educational attainment of Kenyans, the incarceration rate is as high as 60-80% above Africa’s average of 37%. The objective of the study was to: Determine the relationship between schooling and incarceration among inmates of Kamiti and Langata Maximum Prisons. The target population comprised 1,440 male and female inmates. The study employed a correlational survey research design. The sample comprised 313 inmates. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants. The data collection tool used was the questionnaire. To ascertain the reliability of instrument, the test re-test technique was used and a correlation coefficient value of 0.7 or more was acceptable. Quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. ANOVA was used to determine the variance of the responses of the levels of schooling. There was a strong negative relationship between schooling and incarceration among inmates of Kamiti and Langata Maximum Prisons (r= -0.701). The results were presented in the form of tables and figures. The study concluded that the primary school level has a higher predictive power of committing multiple crimes. The study recommended addressing inequities in the schooling of inmates. Components of technical education within the primary school curriculum need to be strengthened to reap optimal returns of skills acquired among inmates and thus in the long run individuals would avoid committing crimes or repeating crimes.
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