Custodial Rehabilitation and Public Security in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic
The study examines the functionality of custodial rehabilitation as a means of improving public security in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. A qualitative exploratory approach was employed during the research, and data was collected from seven correctional facilities, six selected from each of the six geopolitical zones in the country. In contrast, the seventh facility, Agodi Correctional Center was purposely selected to complement information from the other selected facilities. The study population included correctional officers, inmates, exinmates, and non-governmental organizations. Data collected were descriptively analyzed using thematic and content analysis. The study identified incongruence between rehabilitation programmes and services on the one hand, and offenses committed by the inmates and other risk factors on the other as the main cause of the poor performance of the rehabilitation mandate of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) and by extension, the raging crisis of insecurity in the country. Lack of attention on behavior modifying services, and poor socio-economic conditions in the country are also identified as factors militating against effective inmate rehabilitation and re-integration. For the possible improvement of rehabilitation programmes of the NCS and public security in Nigeria, the study advocates assignment of rehabilitation programmes and services to inmates based on the offenses committed, recruitment of more professionals, better focus on behavior modifying programmes for the inmates, and enhancement of the participation of non-governmental organizations in the provision of support services in the correctional centers.
