AMJD Volume. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

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Contributor(s)

Dr. Jacob Eneji Ashibi & Assoc. Professor John Anyabe Adams
 

Keywords

Recidivism Reformatory Programmes Correctional Institutions Ex-convict.
 

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Criminal Recidivistic Tendencies And The Effectiveness Of Reformatory Programmes Of Correctional Institutions In Nigeria

Abstract: In the light of seemingly increasing recidivism rates amongst inmates, this study investigates the effectiveness of reformatory programmes in correctional institutions and the trigger factors of recidivistic tendencies amongst ex-convicts in South-South, Nigeria. The study adopts the descriptive survey design, where the purposive and snowball sampling techniques were further adopted in the administration of the research instruments to the relevant respondents for the study. It draws from Robert Agnew’s general strain theory to present an explanation of the act of recidivism amongst ex-convicts. An in-depth interview guide was adopted to serve as the research instruments for eliciting relevant information from the respondents. Forty-three (43) ex-convicts were utilized as respondents for the study. Findings from the study suggests that although the reformatory programmes of correctional institutions in South-South Nigeria were well designed and structured to achieve criminal reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration; however, factors such as endemic prison subculture, reintegration labelling effects, and employability redundancy of ex-convicts were significantly implicated as the primary causative factors of criminal recidivistic tendencies. Consequently, the study recommends intensive community sensitization and re-orientation via awareness campaigns to facilitate acceptability and reintegration; the creation of enabling environment for the actualization ex-convicts acquired entrepreneurial skills; and the adoption of non-custodial sentences as an alternative to criminal incarceration.
 
 
 

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