Dubbed community-based crime prevention, supervision, rehabilitation and re-integration of children and young persons in conflict with the law in Kenya, the project will cover the period between 2024 and 2027 targeting four counties of Kisumu, Machakos, Siaya and Kiambu

PROBATION MODEL SEEKING TO PREVENT CRIME AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS LAUNCHED

Correctional News / Mon, 11/18/2024 - 14:29

By Nicholas Kigondu

The implementation of a project that seeks to entrench best practices in community-based crime prevention, supervision, rehabilitation and reintegration of children and young persons in conflict with the law is underway as part of ongoing efforts by the State Department for Correctional Services to uphold best practices in offender management.

The project, a partnership between the State Department for Correctional Services and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will be implemented by the Probation and Aftercare Service and will seek to enhance community involvement in the process of managing community-based offenders including children and young persons in conflict with the law.

Speaking during the adoption of the project’s work plan for May 2024-June 2025, State Department for Correctional Services Principal Secretary, who is also the chairperson of the joint coordination committee, Dr. Salome Beacco said the project is critical in actualizing the goals of the Community Probation Volunteers (CPVs) program.

“Indeed, one of the key outcomes of the National Council for the Administration of Justice National Strategy for Children 2023 -2028 is to enhance the effectiveness of community-based rehabilitation programs in PACS for children in conflict with the law through programs that are responsive to children’s needs.” She told the forum.

This even as she called for the interrogation of the community probation volunteer programme to guide in the implementation of the project adding that it should result in the institutionalization and operationalization of the concept in the country similar to Japan’s renowned Volunteer Probation Officer system (Hogoshi).

While pledging her commitment to the successful implementation of the project, Probation and Aftercare Service Secretary Dr. Christine Obondi said the project is going to change the landscape of correctional services in the country.

According to Makoto Shinkawa, the chief representative of JICA Kenya office, the project will not only enhance community volunteer system in Kenya through the establishment of effective community volunteer systems but will also ensure effective rehabilitation and reintegration of children and young persons in conflict with the law.

Speaking at the same forum, United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) Director Yoshimitsu Yamauchi said the current project seeks to build capacity of probation officers as well as community volunteers and will build on the long-standing cooperation between Kenya and Japan.

Dubbed community-based crime prevention, supervision, rehabilitation and re-integration of children and young persons in conflict with the law in Kenya, the project will cover the period between 2024 and 2027 targeting four counties of Kisumu, Machakos, Siaya and Kiambu. It aims to establish a probation model at the community level through awareness-raising activities targeting local citizens about community-based crime prevention, supervision, rehabilitation, and reintegration; training of community probation volunteers selected from among local citizens; and activities with probation officers in the pilot areas.