Abstract

The concept of incarceration reintegration refers to the systematic procedures and assistance provided to individuals who have undergone imprisonment, with the aim of facilitating their successful reentry into society and the subsequent reconstruction of their life (Taxman, 2004). The reduction of recidivism and the promotion of public safety are key objectives within the criminal justice system. This is achieved by providing assistance to individuals who have been incarcerated, with the aim of facilitating their reintegration into society as productive and law-abiding citizens (Vandala,2019). The notion of reintegrating criminals into society has undergone a transformation over the course of history, characterized by varying techniques and perspectives. The present study examined the socialization process in prisons of Punjab, Pakistan by studying prison officials and social welfare officials as the sample recruited with permission from authorities of Central Jails located in Lahore, Multan, and Bahawalpur. The participants were interviewed regarding their experience with prisoners, their role in socializing inmates and the process of re-socializing prisoners. The study also found that prisoners were re-socialized through formal and informal education, religion, trainings and interaction with family members. The study assessed the effectiveness of re-socialization and identified some of the inadequacies in practice. The inadequacies revolved around society, lack of space in prisons and lack of government support. The current study intended to discover the processes involved in the re-socialization of prisoners in prisons of Punjab, Pakistan. The re-socialization takes place inside the prison or total institution. The aim was to prepare the prisoner for the outside world once they are released. The purpose of conducting this study was to gain insights into the experiences of police wardens who are involved in the process of re-socialization. They tend to view prison settings as nothing but a place for incarcerated criminals.The findings of the study have implications for improved policy recommendations by prison officials and government to support re-socialization of prisoners in the country.