NCJ Number
54755
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 241-251
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
NIGERIAN RESEARCH DONE IN THE AREAS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND SENTENCING AND PUNISHMENT IS REPORTED, AND SUGGESTED AREAS FOR CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN NIGERIA ARE LISTED.
Abstract
THE STUDY OF CRIME IN ALL ITS RAMIFICATIONS IS A RECENT UNDERTAKING IN NIGERIA, AND MOST STUDIES UP TO NOW HAVE HAD LEGAL ORIENTATIONS, DERIVED FROM BRITISH INFLUENCES. DESPITE DOUBTS ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF OFFICIAL CRIME STATISTICS AND THEIR LACK OF AVAILABILITY, IT CAN BE SAFELY CONCLUDED THAT CRIME AND DELINQUENCY RATES HAVE BEEN RISING STEADILY IN NIGERIA OVER THE YEARS. TABULAR DATA ON THE RATE OF CRIME BASED ON OFFENCES KNOWN TO THE POLICE ARE REPORTED FOR 1956-1965 AND 1972-1973 TO SUPPORT THIS CONCLUSION. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS OF RESEARCH. A NUMBER OF STUDIES HAVE FOCUSED UPON THE CAUSES OF DELINQUENCY. THE DESIGNS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THESE STUDIES ARE REPORTED IN SUMMARY FORM. IN THE AREA OF SENTENCING AND PUNISHMENT, FOUR ORIENTATIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO UNDERLIE SENTENCING RATIONALE IN NIGERIA--RETRIBUTION, DETERRENCE, PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION. THESE ORIENTATIONS ARE INTERCONNECTED ASPECTS OF AN INTEGRATED SENTENCING APPROACH. THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PRISON SYSTEM, WHICH RECEIVES BY FAR THE MAJORITY OF COURT CONVICTIONS, FULFILLS THE STATED AIMS OF SENTENCING HAS YET TO BE EMPIRICALLY EXPLORED. ONLY GENERAL OBSERVATION AND SPECULATION HAVE SO FAR EMERGED. TABULAR DATA PRESENTED SHOW THAT THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM IS RISING ALONG WITH THE STEADY INCREASE OF PRISON INMATES. NON-CUSTODIAL MEASURES ARE USUALLY ADOPTED FOR JUVENILES, SUCH AS FINES OR COMEPENSATION TO VICTIMS OR A COURT ORDER THAT CHARGES THE PARENT TO GUARANTEE THE JUVENILE'S GOOD BEHAVIOR. RESEARCH SUBJECTS ARE SUGGESTED IN THE AREAS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS. THE SHORTAGE OF SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, APATHY TOWARD THE PROBLEMS POSED BY CRIME, AND LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF RELIABLE DATA ARE PROBLEMS CONFRONTING CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN NIGERIA. (RCB)