This document outlines a proposed study on using bibliotherapy to facilitate behavior change in ex-prisoners in Kenya. The study aims to examine current rehabilitation approaches, develop a bibliotherapy model, and understand ex-prisoner perceptions. It will involve interviews with 15 ex-prisoners, 10 prison officers, and 5 religious leaders. The results could help reform policies and better reintegrate ex-prisoners through a therapeutic reading program. Any research must consider ethics and protect participants' well-being.

1. BY
PATRICK ALFRED WALUCHIO ONGWEN
MPHIL/031/09
SUPERVISED
BY
Dr. Damaris Odero and Dr. Emily Kogos

2. INTRODUCTION
Bibliotherapy is the use of books to help individuals
solve both physical, emotional and spiritual problems
(Riordan, 1989)
Behavior change refers to any transformation or
modification in human behavior (Haldeman &
Idstein: 1979).
Ex-prisoners are prisoners who served their terms of
prison and released to join the community.


3. Background of the study
Kenya’s prison services have historically been
modeled on punitive justice rather than on
restorative justice
Many released prisoners face rejection in
communities.
Technical training like agriculture, carpentry
Bibliotherapy consists of sharing books or
stories with the intent of helping an individual
or group gain insight into personal problems
(Cohn, 1995; Corr, 2003-2004; Doll and Doll,
1997; Pardeck and Pardeck 1997).

4. Statement of the problem
Many ex-prisoner face rejection when released
from the prison.
“I am James Mwindi Ngoru. I have no trace of
family members. I am not sure whether my
brother, sister or father are alive or not” (Times
news, 2008)
RODI-Kenya a rehabilitative organization
using different strategies
American ex-prisoners of war were
rehabilitated by use of books, drama, music
and poetry (Cohn, 1995; Corr, 2003-2004; Doll
and Doll, 1997).

5. Cont.
The research will therefore examine how
bibliotherapy as a strategy to facilitate behavior
change in ex-prisoners and reintegrate them back to
their communities.
The study will focus on ex-prisoner who must have
been in prison for more than five year and have been
out of prison for year and above.

6. Aim of the study
Aim
and objectives
Is to examine how bibliotherapy can be used in
correction and rehabilitation process for the
ex-inmates and develop a model of using
bibliotherapy as a strategy for facilitating
behavior change in ex-prisoners.
Objectives of the study are :
To identify the strategies used by prisons staff
to address behavior change and find out their
effectiveness in correcting, rehabilitating and
reintegrating ex-prisoners in the Kenyan
society.

7. Objectives continued
To find out the ways in which the Kenya prisons
reform initiatives address behavior change in ex-
prisoners
To probe into the ex-prisoners perception of the
strategies used for their correction and rehabilitation
activities.
To examine the challenges facing ex-prisoners in
changing their behaviors and reintegrating with the
Kenyan community using the current strategies
To identify the extent and the form of bibliotherapy
approach used
To develop a model of using bibliotherapy for
correcting, rehabilitating and reintegrating prisoners
in the Kenyan society

8. Research Questions
What are the current approaches used for correction
and rehabilitation of ex-prisoners in Kenya
How effective are they in addressing behavior change
among prisoners
How are the prison reforms initiative directed to
correction and rehabilitation of ex-prisoners?
What do the ex-prisoners feel about correction and
rehabilitation strategies used
Are the various prisons stakeholder (Ministry, prisons
administration and prisons religious leader)
adequately aware of the role bibliotherapy could play
in correcting and rehabilitating the interned

9. Research questions cont.
What challenges are facing the Kenyan
government in changing the behaviors and
reintegrating ex-prisoners back to the
community?
How will bibliotherapy be used to solve the
above challenges?

10. Scope of the study
The main focus of the study will be to find out how
bibliotherapy can be used to facilitate behavior
change in Kenya ex-prisoners but limited to prisoners
who had spend more than five years in prison and
they have been out of the prison for the last one year.
The study will therefore concentrate entirely on the
ex-prisoners, prison officers and accredited prison
religious leaders

11. Limitation of the study
Fear of the ex-prisoners to be identified as prisoners
and therefore not ready to be interviewed.
Possible presence of illiterate ex-prisoner who may be
unable to respond to the interview question in
English.

12. Theoretical frame work
Opportunity theory- Warner (1999), suggest that
most crimes are committed by poor, uneducated
members of the society who lack viable and legitimate
means to attain economic opportunities.
Socio-psychological development theory: The
theory suggests that new behavioral patterns can be
elicited from an individual through exposure to
certain modes of treatment such as correctional-
reading programming (Bandura, 1977; Orpinas et al.,
1996).

13. Moral development theory
The theory suggests that individual change is based
on correctional rehabilitative programmes.
Prison based programmes that offer books of liberal
arts such as psychology, sociology, history or
literature offer rehabilitative effects in that they
strengthen people’s conscience as they confront the
moral dilemmas addressed in the study of liberal arts
(Arbuthnot & Gordon, 1986; Duguid, 1981; Lockwood,
1991).

14. Moral development theory
The groundbreaking ideas of this approach
were formulated by George Herbert Mead, as
discussed in Mind, Self, and Society: From the
Standpoint of a Social Behaviorist (Morris,
1962)
This theory provide a model of how interaction
processes are the basis for moral development in
humans

15. Literature review
The review will be thematic following the themes
listed below.
Overview of current prison system in Kenya.
Reintegration of ex-prisoner back to the society
Origin and development of bibliotherapy
Research based findings: is bibliotherapy an effective
treatment
Nature and value of bibliotherapy
Different types of bibliotherapy
Who qualifies to use bibliotherapy
Bibliotherapy in society setting

16. literature review conti
The process of bibliotherapy
Selecting materials for bibliotherapy
The basics of delivering bibliotherapy
Little has been done on ex-prisoner and reintegration
to the community
More has been done on prisoners in prisons (being
done in Kamiti prison currently)

17. Research design
The research will be qualitative in nature
The study seeks to understand the topic from the
perspective of the ex-inmates.
The design will also to identify intangible factor such
as social norms, socioeconomic status, gender roles
and ethnicity of ex-prisoners
It provides information about the “human” side of an
issue – that is, the often contradictory behaviors,
beliefs, opinions, emotions, and relationships of
ex prisoners and the society (Mays, 2000)

18. Study population
Population Numbers of the Percentage of the total
respondents respondents
Ex-prisoner 15 50
Prison wardens 10 33
Religious leaders 5 17
Total 30 100

19. Sampling strategy
A snowballing sampling strategy will be used in order
to select the target group from the population. The
researcher’s target group will be the ex-prisoners ,
prison staff and accredited prison religious leaders.

20. Data collection methods and
instruments
The research instruments to be used for this study
will be interview guide.
The method for data collection will be indepth
interview

21. Data presentation and analysis
techniques
 The researcher will endeavored to ensure clarity,
relevance and authenticity by checking other
available documents in order to ensure completeness
and accuracy of the collected data.
 The data will be analyzed qualitatively according to
the themes and categories of the responses.

22. Expected outcome of study
Theoretical significance: The study will further the
knowledge on how bibliotherapy can be used for
behavior change especially with reference to ex-
prisoners.
Practical significance: The study will develop a
model of using bibliotherapy as a strategy for
facilitating behavior change in ex-prisoners in Kenya.
Policy related significance: the study will provide
prisons officers, community leaders and accredited
religious leaders with information in formulating the
policy of incorporating bibliotherapy as a strategy for
facilitating behavior change in ex-prisoners.

23. Expected outcome cont.
Public Sensitization: the study will also sensitize
the public on the use of bibliotherapy as a strategy for
behavior change in ex-prisoner
Personal significance: the study will expose the
researcher to more research methodology and
knowledge on bibliotherapy as an area of study

24. Ethical consideration
The research with ex-prisoners should be conducted
only if it offers a distinctly favorable benefit-to-risk
ratio, not because ex-prisoners are a convenient
source of subjects.
The goal is to ensure rigorous, responsible research
that improves the well-being of ex-prisoners while
taking great care to protect their health, wellbeing,
and human rights.