Readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract Purpose – Re-entry refers to the process of transitioning back into society after incarceration, and it is a complex phenomenon that requires further exploration. Therefore, this study aims to identify the readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia. Design/m...

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Main Authors: Tharshini, N. K., Swee, Kiong Wong, Faizah, Haji Mas’ud, Kamsiah, Ali, Nur Addila, Ahmad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing Limited 2024
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Online Access:http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45619/1/10-1108_JFP-10-2023-0049%20-%20Copy.pdf
http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45619/
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JFP-10-2023-0049/full/html?skipTracking=true
https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-10-2023-0049
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spelling my.unimas.ir.456192024-08-12T04:27:57Z http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45619/ Readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia Tharshini, N. K. Swee, Kiong Wong Faizah, Haji Mas’ud Kamsiah, Ali Nur Addila, Ahmad H Social Sciences (General) HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform Abstract Purpose – Re-entry refers to the process of transitioning back into society after incarceration, and it is a complex phenomenon that requires further exploration. Therefore, this study aims to identify the readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – Using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory as the theoretical foundation, quantitative place-based research was conducted among 384 pre-release prisoners in Kuching, Sri Aman, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu and Limbang prisons. Findings – This study’s results indicated that most respondents were Malay male offenders between the ages of 25 and 29, Malaysian citizens, single and had completed their education up to the upper secondary level. Most respondents had multiple prior convictions (52.3%), were convicted for drugrelated offences (50.3%), had served sentences ranging from two to five years (56.0%) and were scheduled for release in 2023 (60.7%). The findings also demonstrated that factors such as personal development, perceived employability, social development and health development significantly predict readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners [F(4, 379) ¼ 96.269, p < 0.01]. Practical implications – The findings of this study provide place-based evidence for the state government to understand the prisoner profile for further policy intervention measures and to enhance the personal development, perceived employability, social development and health development of pre-release prisoners. Given that most offenses were drug-related, it is crucial to highlight the state government’s need to invest in evidence-based drug treatment programmes. Synergy among different stakeholders is important to devise appropriate drug treatment programmes tailored to the current needs of the prison population to ensure successful reintegration into society and to actualise their potential. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research study conducted in Sarawak, Malaysia, that examined re-entry readiness among pre-release prisoners. It contributes to the knowledge pool by providing place-based evidence that takes into account readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia, from an Asian perspective to promote the attainment of SDG16. Emerald Publishing Limited 2024 Article PeerReviewed text en http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45619/1/10-1108_JFP-10-2023-0049%20-%20Copy.pdf Tharshini, N. K. and Swee, Kiong Wong and Faizah, Haji Mas’ud and Kamsiah, Ali and Nur Addila, Ahmad (2024) Readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia. THE JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE, 26 (3). pp. 149-164. ISSN 2050-8794 https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JFP-10-2023-0049/full/html?skipTracking=true https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-10-2023-0049
institution Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
building Centre for Academic Information Services (CAIS)
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
content_source UNIMAS Institutional Repository
url_provider http://ir.unimas.my/
language English
topic H Social Sciences (General)
HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
spellingShingle H Social Sciences (General)
HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Tharshini, N. K.
Swee, Kiong Wong
Faizah, Haji Mas’ud
Kamsiah, Ali
Nur Addila, Ahmad
Readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia
description Abstract Purpose – Re-entry refers to the process of transitioning back into society after incarceration, and it is a complex phenomenon that requires further exploration. Therefore, this study aims to identify the readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – Using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory as the theoretical foundation, quantitative place-based research was conducted among 384 pre-release prisoners in Kuching, Sri Aman, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu and Limbang prisons. Findings – This study’s results indicated that most respondents were Malay male offenders between the ages of 25 and 29, Malaysian citizens, single and had completed their education up to the upper secondary level. Most respondents had multiple prior convictions (52.3%), were convicted for drugrelated offences (50.3%), had served sentences ranging from two to five years (56.0%) and were scheduled for release in 2023 (60.7%). The findings also demonstrated that factors such as personal development, perceived employability, social development and health development significantly predict readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners [F(4, 379) ¼ 96.269, p < 0.01]. Practical implications – The findings of this study provide place-based evidence for the state government to understand the prisoner profile for further policy intervention measures and to enhance the personal development, perceived employability, social development and health development of pre-release prisoners. Given that most offenses were drug-related, it is crucial to highlight the state government’s need to invest in evidence-based drug treatment programmes. Synergy among different stakeholders is important to devise appropriate drug treatment programmes tailored to the current needs of the prison population to ensure successful reintegration into society and to actualise their potential. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research study conducted in Sarawak, Malaysia, that examined re-entry readiness among pre-release prisoners. It contributes to the knowledge pool by providing place-based evidence that takes into account readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia, from an Asian perspective to promote the attainment of SDG16.
format Article
author Tharshini, N. K.
Swee, Kiong Wong
Faizah, Haji Mas’ud
Kamsiah, Ali
Nur Addila, Ahmad
author_facet Tharshini, N. K.
Swee, Kiong Wong
Faizah, Haji Mas’ud
Kamsiah, Ali
Nur Addila, Ahmad
author_sort Tharshini, N. K.
title Readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia
title_short Readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia
title_full Readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia
title_fullStr Readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in Sarawak, Malaysia
title_sort readiness for re-entry among pre-release prisoners in sarawak, malaysia
publisher Emerald Publishing Limited
publishDate 2024
url http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45619/1/10-1108_JFP-10-2023-0049%20-%20Copy.pdf
http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45619/
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JFP-10-2023-0049/full/html?skipTracking=true
https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-10-2023-0049
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score 13.211869