A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE NIGERIAN PRISON SERVICES, AFTER CARE SERVICES AND SOCIETAL REINTEGRATION OF EX-CONVICTS

                    ABSTRACT

Imprisonment serves several universal functions, including the protection of the society, the prevention of crime, retribution against criminal and rehabilitation of inmates. Additional goal of imprisonment may include the assurance of justice based on a philosophy of just desserts (getting what one deserves) and the reintegration of inmates in the community following their sentence. In the Nigerian Prison System, discharge of prisoners after serving their terms of imprisonment is a 'hell to hell' reintegration. After passing through ill-luck and disastrous experiences in prison, prisoners are always left without hope when coming out of prison. It is along this background that this study investigates the consequences of incarceration, after-care services for prisoners and reintegration of ex-convicts in Nigeria.  This long essay seeks to critically examine the present situation of Nigerian Prison Service and what the government and the prison officials have in stock for prisoners after discharge. In addition, this essay tends to appraise the deficiencies of the lack and/or inadequate of after-care services for prisoners and environmental stigmatization of ex-convicts. This study concludes by proffering solutions/recommendations in order to ensure and guarantee a crime-free and sustainable means of livelihood for prisoners after discharge. 

TABLE OF CONTENT

COVERPAGE -----------------------------------------------------------------------------i

DECLARATION--------------------------------------------------------------------------ii

CERTIFICATION------------------------------------------------------------------------iii

ABSTRACT--------------------------------------------------------------------------------iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS--------------------------------------------------------------v-vii

DEDICATION-------------------------------------------------------------------------viiiACKNOWLEDGMENT---------------------------------------------------------------ix

TABLE OF CASES---------------------------------------------------------------------x

TABLE OF STATUTES---------------------------------------------------------------xi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS---------------------------------------------------------xii

CHAPTER ONE GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY----------------------------------------------1-3 

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ---------------------------------------------3-5

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS-----------------------------------------------------------5

1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES----------------------------------------------------------5

1.5 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY-------------------------------------------------------5-6

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY--------------------------------6

1.7 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ----------------------------------------------------7

1.8 LITERATURE REVIEW------------------------------------------------------------8-9

1.9 CONCLUSION -------------------------------------------------------------------------9

CHAPTER TWO DEFINITION OF TERMS AND NIGERIAN PRISON SERVICES TO INMATES

2.1 INTRODUCTION---------------------------------------------------------------------10

2.2 DEFINITION OF KEY WORDS------------------------------------------------10-12

2.2  RIGHT   AND   ENTITLEMENTS   OF   PRISON   INMATES   UNDER   THENIGERIAN LAWS VIS-À-VIS INTERNATIONAL LAWS------------------ 12- 19

2.3 PRISON SERVICES UNDER THE NIGERIAN PRISON SYSTEM------19-21

CHAPTER THREE AFTERCARE SERVICES AND SOCIETAL   REINTEGRATION OF EX-CONVICTS

3.1 INTRODUCTION----------------------------------------------------------------22-24

3.2 DISABILITY OF EX-CONVICT IN NIGERIA----------------------------24--28

3.3 RECIDIVISM OF PRISONERS-----------------------------------------------24- 28

3.4  NIGERIAN   PRISON   AFTERCARE  SERVICES  AND   SOCIETALREINTEGRATION-----------------------------------------------------------------28-32

CHAPTER FOUR CHALLENGES AND ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS

4.0 INTRODUCTION---------------------------------------------------------------------33

4.1 MAJOR CHALLENGES OF NIGERIAN PRISON SERVICES ---------33-38

4.2ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS--------------------------------- 38- 40

CHAPTER FIVE GENERAL CONCLUSION 5.0CONCLUSION---------------------------------------------------------------------41- 42

5.1 RECOMMENDATIONS----------------------------------------------------------42-46 

BIBLIOGRAPHY-----------------------------------------------------------------48-49