Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Social Reintegration and Acceptance of Probationers in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study in Tangail District

The Bangladesh Probation System has its origins in the British colonial period but its implementation is negligible. The probation system is based on reformative rather than retributive. This approach allows criminals to reintegrate into society by living in the community and reforming themselves. This study is conducted based on a qualitative method, where data is collected from 15 probationers of Tangail District which are conducted by face to face in depth interview method. The sample size of this study is 15. Here, probability sampling, and the convenience method is used for the data collections. Primary data are analyzed thematically. This study express that all of respondents come from marginalized socio-economic backgrounds and majority of the respondents have been convicted of illegal drug abuse. As the probationers reform themselves by facing various challenges, they are reintegrating into society. In order to reintegrate, they faced familial and societal discrimination and stigmatization. As a result self-stigma increases in them. Again, it can be seen that with the help of some people in the family or society, they are getting reintegration promptly. For the successful reintegration of probationers, the government can provide them with various forms of training, education, financial assistance and employment as well as promote the probation system to the public. There are scarce of research on probation systems. Therefore, through this research, it will be seen whether the purpose of probation is being properly fulfilled along with the development of the Bangladesh probation system. In the future, further study about probation will be helped by this study and this will assist as a framework for probation system research.