The Role of Reading in Offender Rehabilitation and Reintegration into the Community in the Western Cape Metro, South Africa

Abstract

Often after serving a complete sentence or being released on parole, offenders become recidivist. Reading can be used as an approach to advance social transformation of offenders for the purposes of rehabilitation and reintegration into society and thus reducing recidivism. This study provides a conceptual account of the role of reading in offender rehabilitation and reintegration into the community with the view to reduce recidivism. The study uses the reflections on the developments at the correctional facilities of the Department of Correctional Services in South Africa using the Western Cape as a case. It is revealed that book clubs in the correctional facilities of South Africa did not only inspire offenders to increase their participation in reading, but also encouraged correctional officials to ensure that book clubs are used as a rehabilitation vehicle. It is hoped that this study will inform policy shifts on the part of the Department of Correctional Services in South Africa on the role of reading in offender rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.