Comparative Criminal Jurisprudence

Comparative Criminal Jurisprudence

The Role of Prisoner Rehabilitation through Vocational Training in Clinical Criminology: A Case Study of Shahr-e Kord Prison

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Esmaeil Alikhani Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Ya.C., Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.
2 Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, ShK.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
3 Department of Law, Ya.C., Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.
10.22034/jccj.2026.546910.1759
Abstract
This research examines the role of vocational training programs in the rehabilitation and reform of prisoners from the perspective of clinical criminology, highlighting its importance as an effective intervention tool for reducing recidivism and empowering inmates. Clinical criminology adopts a therapeutic approach aimed at personality reform and preventing reoffending, where vocational and technical training holds particular significance as an innovative and practical intervention within this framework. A case study conducted in Shahrekord prison demonstrated that inmates who participated in vocational training not only increased their job-related knowledge and skills but also exhibited a more positive attitude towards earning a lawful living and adhering to rules. Some participants were able to apply the skills they learned in their daily prison activities and showed greater interest in engaging in educational and vocational programs, indicating the tangible impact of the training on behavior reform and reintegration of prisoners. The findings emphasize that appropriate design, continuity, and quality of vocational training can serve as an innovative corrective tool that fulfills the objectives of clinical criminology, including personality reform, rehabilitation, and reducing criminal tendencies. The provision of practical evidence from Shahrekord prison, which has been less addressed in Iranian studies, illustrates the significance of vocational training programs in decreasing recidivism rates and empowering inmates for successful reintegration into society. These findings can serve as a practical guide for developing policies and educational programs in prisons and provide a framework for utilizing vocational training as a key crime prevention tool.
Keywords

Volume 5, Issue 4
Autumn 2025
Pages 260-272

  • Receive Date 13 September 2025
  • Revise Date 15 December 2025
  • Accept Date 23 June 2026
  • Publish Date 22 December 2025