The impact of the sentencing policy on the rehabilitation of prisoners in Tanzania

The researcher investigates to what extent the sentencing policy courts is in conformity with the theory of rehabilitation of prisoners, the researcher, a senior prisons officer had worked at various prisons in Tanzania, where he encountered fundamental obstacles at providing meaningful therapy for rehabilitation. The author proposes that, the policy of rehabilitation calls for good environment and sound relationship between the sentencing authorities and the prisons authorities. The object being to rehabilitate the criminal so that he can go back to society and serve as a useful citizen. The author argues that, the inherent and degrading punishments are imposable under the Minimum Sentences Act are in conflict with the theory of rehabilitation of offenders. He argues further that, the harsh prisons conditions and essential prison facilities have negatively influenced the rehabilitation of prisoners. These prison conditions violate the principle of human rights. The researcher notes that, there is a discrepancy between self-reliance and production in prisons and progressive policies being strived for under the label of rehabilitation is a process of transforming criminality tendencies from that perspective. Finally the researcher outlines theoretically sound, but practical recommendation to a viable rehabilitation of prisoners in Tanzania