Psychosocial Impacts of Imprisonment among Youth Offenders in Correctional Administration Center, Kellem Wollega Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

A research study was conducted to assess the psychological impact of imprisonment among youth offenders
at selected correction administrative center, Kellem Wollega zone, Ethiopia.
The objectives were to assess the respondent’s socio-demographic characteristics, to investigate the
psychosocial impacts of imprisonment on Youth Offenders and to identify the difference on Youth
imprisonment level with the residence and gender of offenders.
Crosses sectional study was conducted with 83 youth offenders were selected by systematic sampling
technique. The data were collected by using standardized questionnaires. The collected data was tabulated
and analyzed with SPSS. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used.
Researchers observed that causes of imprisonment in three different categories as follows: 42(50.6%),
18(21.7%) and 23 (27.7%) of the respondents reported psychological, social and economic interconnected
reasons respectively. Psychological impacts of imprisonment as tracks: 68(81.9%), 59(71.1%) of the
respondents reported diminished sense of self-worth, personal value due to imprisonment and Self-harm and
drug abuse are the result of long periods of time spent in the prison correspondingly. It is vital and utmost
necessary to identify the level of psychological impact and alleviate the fear and other associated symptoms
and arrange for counselling to provide positive metal health.