An Assessment of the Challenges of Children in Prison with their Mothers: A Case of Langata Women Maximum Prison
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Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Interdisciplinary Journal on the African Child
Abstract
Children growing up in prison with imprisoned mothers are faced with many challenges. The
Kenyan laws allow toddlers to stay with their incarcerated mothers in prison up to the age of
four. Definitely, the children who live in prison are not criminals and as such should not be
subjected to any treatment and environment that reduces their human basic natural rights. It is
against this backdrop that this paper assessed the challenges of children in prison with their
mothers in Lang’ata Women’s Maximum Prison. Specifically, the paper assessed the social,
psychological and educational challenges. The paper was intended to influence the justice system
in the best interest of the child. The study used a naturalistic design which was purely qualitative
in nature to collected data. The researcher purposively sampled only women with their children
in the prison. The data collected was analysed using content analysis to generate qualitative
report which was presented in a continuous prose and verbatim citations. The social development
challenges were mostly observed. The study found out that prisoners were subjected to severe
overcrowding, insufficient food supply, mothers had to share their portion with the children, poor
sanitary conditions, inadequate water supply and bedding. Police and prison guards subjected
prisoners to torture and inhuman treatment such as handcuffing, punishing and shouting at the
mothers in front of the children causes psychological trauma to the children. It further found that
there are no enough learning materials at the centre. In conclusion, whatever is done in all
actions considering children, whether undertaken by private or public social welfare institutions,
courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interest of the child shall
be a main consideration. Both the society and the government should operationalize this fact.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
social, psychological, educational, spiritual, challenges, children
Citation
Cheruiyot, J. K. (2018).An Assessment of the Challenges of Children in Prison with their Mothers: A Case of Langata Women Maximum Prison. Interdisciplinary Journal on the African Child. Special edition 2019 Vol. 01, Issue 01