Understanding offending – Prisoners and rehabilitation in Malawi

The report examines rehabilitation in Malawi's prisons, finding that while officials view it as 'changing the behaviour of offenders so as to help them become useful citizens', the actual implementation is hampered by a lack of clear allocation criteria, generic skill training that does not meet market demands, and a disconnect between officials' optimism and offenders' fears regarding post-release employment.

• Prison officials in Malawi generally define rehabilitation as the process of "changing the behaviour of offenders so as to help them become useful citizens", focusing on criminal behaviour modification and the provision of skills to occupy the mind after release.
• There is a lack of transparency and consistency in how inmates are allocated to rehabilitation programmes. While some officials cite age, crime type, and academic qualifications, others mention good manners, health status, and willingness; however, many offenders—particularly those convicted of theft, arson, malicious damage, and grievous harm—report they were simply not selected without knowing why.
• Rehabilitation activities are split between those supporting prison functions (e.g., laundry, hospital skills) and vocational training (e.g., welding, carpentry, plumbing). However, the vocational skills offered are often generic and replicate common existing skills in the community, which limits their effectiveness as viable livelihood strategies or tools for enhancing employability.
• Most prison officials report working in isolation from other government departments, though some partnerships exist with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, and the Police. The report notes that a coordinated approach and formal certification of trade skills are necessary to reduce recidivism and facilitate workforce entry.
• There is a significant disparity between the perceptions of prison officials and offenders regarding post-release employment. While 47 out of 61 officials believe offenders are likely to secure a job, the majority of prisoners fear they will struggle due to low educational qualifications and community stigma.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). Understanding offending – Prisoners and rehabilitation in Malawi. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/UNDERSTANDCURRENTREHAB.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Understanding offending – Prisoners and rehabilitation in Malawi. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/UNDERSTANDCURRENTREHAB.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Understanding offending – Prisoners and rehabilitation in Malawi |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/UNDERSTANDCURRENTREHAB.PDF |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndunderstanding, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Understanding offending – Prisoners and rehabilitation in Malawi}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/UNDERSTANDCURRENTREHAB.PDF}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }