Life after detention: challenges encountered by released juvenile offenders in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

This article explores the challenges encountered by released juvenile offenders in Accra, employing the qualitative research method, using the phenomenological approach. Twelve young male adults released from the senior correctional center in Accra took part in interviews which analyzed the Interpretative Phenomenological Approach. The findings of the study reveal that the participants encountered educational and employment challenges. Factors that fueled these challenges include the lack of financial resources and stigma. The lack of state support for the reintegration of released juvenile offenders was also another major contributing factor, the study identified. The findings of this study reveal the need for implementing the Justice for Children policy in Ghana. Context-related reintegration processes for children in conflict with the law suitable for the African and the Ghanaian terrain must be incorporated into the juvenile justice administration. This move is to ensure that released juvenile offenders are cared for. The findings further call for more research into reintegration programs fit for the African context and curated to meet the needs of these released juvenile offenders.

Keywords:

• reintegration
• juvenile offender
• challenges
• transitional support

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).