Revista de Artes e Ciências Sociais

Prison Reforms System and Inmate's Welfare in Nigeria

Abstract

Opafunso ZO and Adepoju OO

The dilapidation state of the Nigeria prisons demonstrates a condition that cannot guarantee the reformatory process of the inmates. This can be attributed to the disregard for the welfare of the inmates and failure to implement the prison reforms recommendations. The paper examined the effectiveness of prisons reforms on the welfare of inmates in Ado Ekiti and Olokuta prisons in Ekiti and Ondo States respectively. The study employed a descriptive survey research design with the use of a structured questionnaire to obtain information from the inmates. Multi stage sampling technique was adopted to select the respondents (inmates) from the two prisons. Data for this study were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi square to test the hypothesis formulated for the study. The study revealed that poor administration of the criminal justice systems and unethical practices of the Nigeria police force in Nigeria resulting to high number of inmates awaiting trials are the major causes of overcrowding of the prisons. Therefore, overcrowding constitute a major threat to the welfare of the inmates. In addition the study revealed that prison reforms have a significant impact on the welfare of the inmates in Ado Ekiti and Olokuta. The study recommended government intervention in the implementation of the previously recommended prison reforms, constant supervision of the prisons by the Minister of interior and allocation of funds for provision of infrastructure to cater for the needs of the Nigeria Prison Service.