The School of Behavioural Sciences and Forensic Investigations (SBSFI), in collaboration with the International Cooperation and Relations Branch (ICRB) of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), successfully concluded the International Training Programme on Offender Reformation and Rehabilitation. The two-week programme brought together 23 participants from 15 countries, reaffirming RRU’s global commitment to promoting correctional excellence and international collaboration in criminal justice reform.

The inaugural session featured Dr K. L. N. Rao, Director General of Police, Gujarat, who shared his extensive experience in correctional administration. Emphasizing that “all saints have a past and sinners have a future,” he illustrated how small yet meaningful reforms can create lasting impact. Drawing from initiatives in Gujarat Prisons—such as improving nutritional standards to enhance inmate health and reduce medical expenses—he highlighted that while a small proportion of offenders adopt crime as a profession, the majority can be positively transformed through guided reformative efforts. His insights, drawn from his book “Gujarat Police X Factor,” set an inspiring tone for the training.

The first lecture was delivered by Dr S. L. Vaya, Lifetime Professor, RRU, a pioneer of Forensic Psychology in India, who laid the conceptual foundation for the training. She emphasized the psychological underpinnings of criminal behaviour and the importance of integrating scientific psychological methods with humane correctional practices to bring about sustainable change in offenders. Her lecture established a strong academic base for the sessions that followed.

The training sessions offered a structured exploration of the process from reformation to rehabilitation through expert-led lectures and interactive discussions. Participants examined the holistic purpose of the criminal justice system, focusing on psychological well-being, empathy, anger and stress management, and emotional intelligence as key components of behavioural change. The sessions progressed to topics such as effective communication, conflict resolution, ethical decision-making, and the role of education, vocational training, probation, and parole in the reintegration process. Later discussions addressed the protection of human rights and dignity, relapse prevention through healthy lifestyles, and the restoration of family and community ties as a basis for reintegration. The training concluded with themes on financial literacy, self-reliance, and designing sustainable rehabilitation pathways.

To bridge theory with practice, field visits to Sabarmati and Vadodara Central Prisons were scheduled at the end of the programme. This sequence allowed participants to first develop conceptual understanding and then observe reformation and rehabilitation models being implemented within real correctional settings.

The valedictory session, marked the successful culmination of the programme. All participants were awarded certificates of completion and shared their reflections on the training, commending its academic depth and practical orientation. They expressed sincere appreciation for RRU’s evidence-based approach to offender rehabilitation and conveyed keen interest in establishing future collaborations with India in behavioural sciences and correctional reforms.

Under the visionary leadership of Prof (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel, Vice-Chancellor, Rashtriya Raksha University continues to strengthen its position as a global centre for education, research, and capacity building in behavioural sciences, criminology, and correctional studies—contributing to a more just, humane, and rehabilitative global society.

SM/IJ/GP

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