A Kisii based criminologist, Evans Magendo says police brutality is to blame for the increased cases of recidivism in the criminal justice system.
He was speaking on Saturday in Kisii town, where he said most of the police officers opt for force rather than rehabilitating the individual.
“Criminals are sick people who want to be guided and treated. The best method and approach of helping them is by rehabilitating them not mistreating them.” he said.
He added that the police have a tendency of being brutal.
“Police brutality where some of the ways used during the colonial period to instill a sense of fear among the people due to forced rule. They were interested not in rehabilitating but instilling fear, we are past that where our Criminal Justice system has grown to rehabilitating people not punishing them,” he added.
He adds that the prisons should serve to rehabilitate and not punish, as this will go along way in helping curb criminal activities.
“The person being held in prison should be handled in such a way that they feel they are being corrected for the mistake done but not punished for what they did,” he added.
He further noted that research show that beating up prisoners and suspects will only serve to make defiant hardcore criminals, thus recidivism will occur.
“The way the police handle their suspects determine a big deal their future behaviors. If they are harassed they are more likely to become criminals again,” he warned.