CRIME, ITS PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY - NIGERIA

• NCJ Number: 48931
• Journal: Annales Internationales de Criminologie Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (1976) Pages: 141-171
• Author(s): P P LEJINS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 31 pages
• Corporate Author: Societe Internationale de Criminologie
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: France

Annotation

IN A SERIES OF FOUR LECTURES THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRIME CONTROL IN TRADITIONAL, TRIBAL SOCIETIES IS CONTRASTED AGAINST THE NEEDS OF URBAN SOCIETIES. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF PRISONERS AND SENTENCING ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE FOUR LECTURES ARE TITLED: 'SIGNIFICANCE OF CULTURE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY,' 'CRIME-CONTROL STRATEGY IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY,' 'CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CONVICTED OFFENDERS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE TREATMENT METHODS,' AND 'APPLICATIONS OF CRIMINOLOGY IN THE SENTENCING PROCESS.' THE FIRST LECTURE URGES EXAMINATION OF THE TRADITIONAL TRIBAL LAWS OF NIGERIA BY THOSE WRITING THE CRIMINAL CODE. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT IF THE CRIMINAL CODE DOES NOT REFLECT THE BELIEFS OF THE PEPOLE, IT WILL NOT HAVE RESPECT. THE CURRENT CRIMINAL CODE WAS BROUGHT BY THE ENGLISH AND REFLECTS ENGLISH COMMON LAW. THIS MAY NOT REFLECT THE FEELINGS OF NIGERIANS AND SHOULD BE MODIFIED WHENEVER IT CONFLICTS WITH DEEPLY-HELD NIGERIAN ATTITUDES. THE URBANIZATION CURRENTLY ACCOMPANYING DEVELOPMENT CALLS FOR GREATER SOCIAL CONTROL THAN IS FOUND IN SMALL VIALAGES. THE SECOND LECTURE EXAMINES PUNISHMENT, EDUCATION, AND REMOVAL OF CRIME CAUSES AND URGES ATTENTION TO ALL THREE TO MEET THE INCREASED CRIMINALITY ACCOMPANYING RAPID URBANIZATION. THE LECTURE ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS EXAMINES THE FOLLOWING: THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMANITARIANISM, THE HISTORY OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES, THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES OF 1870 (ISSUED BY THE FIRST NATIONAL CONGRESS ON PENITENTIARY AND REFORMATORY DISCIPLINE, CINCINNATI, OHIO), THE EUROPEAN MOVEMENT TOWARD GREATER HUMANITARIANISM, THE STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE UNITED NATIONS, AND THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS. APPLICATION OF THESE DOCTRINES IN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING IS DISCUSSED. FITTING THE SENTENCE TO THE CRIME IS THE THEME OF THE LAST LECUTURE. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE ARE LISTED. THE NEED FOR CLEAR GUIDELINES IS STRESSED. NIGERIANS ARE URGED TO AVOID THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS. REFERENCES ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE TEXT. (GLR)