EXAMINATION OF PRISON ADMINISTRATION AND CRIME PREVENTION IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
The objectives of the study are as follows: To ascertain the extent to which prison congestion in Nigeria poses a serious constraints on prison administration, to find out the extent funding has affected on the administration of Nigeria prison and to verify the extent to which lack of rehabilitation and correctional equipment in Nigeria Prisons constitutes a constraint to rehabilitation of inmates, and also the prevention of crime in Nigeria. The researcher adopted a survey design using Nigerian Prison Service, Agodi Gate Ibadan as a case study. The data used were mainly from primary sources which supported secondary sources. Data generated were analysed using tools like simple tables, and percentage. The findings showed that inadequate funding of prisons by federal government of Nigeria constitutes an impediment to effective administration of Nigeria Prisons, lack of correlation facilities for the rehabilitation of offenders in Nigeria prisons is positively related to the increase of recidivism among prison inmates, the Nigeria extant laws on prisons have impacted negatively on the administration of her Prisons. The study recommended among other things that federal government should increase the funding of Nigeria Prison, and the need for government to amend the extant laws on prison to emphasize punishment and grant the rehabilitation of both Awaiting Trial Men (ATM) and the convicted.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction
Crime is any act or behaviour which violates the norms (normative behaving) of a society. This would mean that a criminal should be seen as any person who breaks any of the rules or norm of behaviour by which society is governed and has the possibility of affecting the wellbeing of other members of the society.(Roth 2006) Therefore, the importance of crime prevention and control, maintenance of law and order to the development and growth of a society,both in the physical and economic sense, cannot be over emphasized.
Roth (2006) is of the opinion that ‘it is only a mind that is secured and at peace that can rationally address the issues of procreation,economic development and societal growth. A disturbed mind is a restless and distraught personality. It is therefore imperative to have peace and order in the society to assure its growth and development.The role of law enforcement in the maintenance of peace and order as well as crime prevention in the society is a foregone conclusion.