Nigeria Correctional Institution Congestion and its Effects on Inmates

Abstract

Nigeria Correctional Institution has generally been regarded as an animal cage. Congestion in Nigerian Correctional Institutions is often identified as the cause of inmate ill health and misconduct and of post-release recidivism. The objective of this paper is to examine the causes of congestion in the Nigerian Correctional Institution. The work argues that Inmates housed in large, open bay dormitories are more likely to visit clinics and to have high blood pressure than are inmates in other housing arrangements (single-bunked cells, double-bunked cells, small dormitories, large partitioned dormitories). The work recommends that regular jail delivery should be encouraged, the government should embark on a programme of Correctional Institution expansion, more Correctional Institutions should be built, while open Correctional Institution camps should be encouraged; the Nigerian Correctional Service should assume a creative leadership role in criminal justice administration in Nigeria; and the problem of poverty and unemployment should be addressed to reduce the crime rate in society.