Challenges Facing Women In Prison: A Case Of Narok Prison

ABSTRACT

This study examines the challenges faced by the women prisoners. The study was undertaken at

Narok prison in Narok County. Women are among the minority group in the society that has

been neglected and the challenges that they face in the society they are overlooked.

The study adopted descriptive research design. Simple random sampling technique was used to

draw a sample population of 30 convicted inmates from a study population of 40.Data was

collected using structured questionnaire, which was administered by the researcher .In addition,

qualitative data was collected through an in depth interview with five prison staffs who gave an

insight of the challenges that women are facing in Narok Prison.

The study findings indicate that women inmates undergo stress adapting to the new environment

of prison life away from their family and the people they love. The detachment from the world

and separation from the family is a major source of stress, loneliness, homesick and boredom

were found to be weighing them down.

The findings also indicated that HIV is a major health problem that women face in prison and

overcrowding was a major social problem that women had to deal with while serving their

sentences.

These challenges the women development aspect since their mental health is affected and they

suffer the trauma of serving short sentences for petty crimes and also the fact of mingling the

hard criminals while in prison.

The study therefore recommends that the women imprisoned for non- violent crimes may be

allowed to serve non- custodial punishment since their sentences are shorter to prevent family

breakages as well as to reduce overcrowding in prison. In addition, the prison authorities should

put more recreational facilities in the institution where inmates can spend their leisure time to

keep them busy, improve on health care services provided and also to keep them busy from

engaging in drugs and alcohol abuse. The study also recommends that the measures that Narok

prison has put in place in place to curb the challenges should be strengthened and followed to the

letter to avoid the problems that women are facing while in prison.