AN EXAMINATION OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND CRIME PREVENTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Correctional centers are institutions established to house people who have been convicted of crime or are awaiting trial; the study was aimed at evaluating prison administration and crime prevention in Nigeria, specifically the Correctional Service Center at Dutse, Jigawa StateCommand. Survey research method was adopted and the data was collected through primary and secondary sources. The primary source was obtained throughquestionnaire and In-depth Interview.While, the secondary source was obtained through reading of books, academic journals, conference and workshoppapers and eresources. The population of the study was the correctional staff and inmates fromDutse Commanded; a total number of 100 respondentswererandomly selected; out of which 90questionnaireswere returned. The data collected were analyzed, using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software package; findings of the study revealed that lack of functional correctional facilities, inequitable distribution of resources and poor working attitude of some of the prison staff were the internal factors which constrain the correctional institution from effectively performing its statutory functions. The studywas limited by the reluctance of the inmatesto grantinterview toget relevant data. The study recommends thatincrease in budgetary allocation, establishment of Open University fortraining and retraining of staff and inmates organizing regular workshops, provision of places of worship such as church and mosque within the prison yards, as well as periodic review of reforms policies would reduce corruption among the prisons officials and enhance effective correctional administration and crime prevention in the Custodial Centres.