Ex-Juvenile Offenders' Experience of Imprisonment and Reintegration in Dir Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

This research focuses on the released juvenile offenders’ reintegration within Dir Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study uncovers prison experiences’ impact on juvenile offender’s reintegration. Adopting a qualitative phenomenological approach, the data is collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with forty-five juvenile offenders. Thematic analysis revealed prison experiences, significantly influencing the reintegration process. The juvenile offenders perceived their prison experiences as flawed, marked with challenges that adversely affected their reintegration process. The research findings emphasized the urgency to develop comprehensive reforms within the system of prisons, thereby advocating to improve and enhance the access to education, healthcare, vocational training, behavioral interventions, and robust planning of pre-release for juvenile offenders.