NCJ Number
143541
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (1993) Pages: 185-191
Date Published
1993
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Over the past decade, there has been a steady rise in the Nigerian prison population; by July 1990, the average monthly inmate population was 54,000 while the total prison capacity was only 31,000, resulting in an overcrowding figure of 74.2 percent.
Abstract
The prison population in Nigeria is described here as a "mixed grill" of adult males and females, young persons, criminal and civil lunatics, pregnant women, debtors, detainees, and first offenders. More than 60 percent of prison admissions are waiting trial or being remanded in custody. Factors identified as causing overcrowding include delays in the administration of justice, overuse of prison sentences by judges, over-criminalization, and lack of adequate resources to build new prisons. Some side effects that inmates have experienced as a result of overcrowding include damage to physical and mental health and human rights violations. The author recommends reform of Nigerian criminal law, enhanced cooperation between police and the public, particularly in terms of encouraging witnesses to come forth. In addition, the author recommends recruitment of additional court and judicial personnel, deployment of legal aid personnel to prisons, and restricted use of imprisonment for young offenders. Other recommendations include liberalized bail procedures; development of alternatives to institutionalization; and construction of new prisons. The report contains 15 references.