PAROLE AND PROBATION AS REMEDY FOR NIGERIA’S PRISON CONGESTION PROBLEM

Abstract

The Nigeria criminal justice system, particularly the penitentiary has been plaque with a lot of problems especially the issue of overcrowding and the poor living condition of inmates. Majority of the inmates are those awaiting trial, or ATP. The poor condition of the prison makes many prisoners to develop mental problems. Over the years, various reforms have been introduced by Comptroller General of prisons, but these reforms have failed to address the issue of prison congestion. Instead of the prisons to serve their fundamental purpose, which is reformation and rehabilitation of criminal offenders they have become a breeding place for hardened criminals. Many incarcerated offenders become recidivist immediately they are released from prison custody. This paper examines the problem of prison congestion in Nigeria. The Marxian class analysis is used as a theoretical framework to understand Nigeria’s prison congestion problem. Marxist theorists will contend that recidivism is prevalent among the people of lower class than the privileged and affluent class because they do not have the financial resources to secure early release on bail from prison or prosecute any criminal charges leveled against them. It recommends the adoption of community-based corrections such probation and parole as alternative to incarceration as solution to Nigeria’s prison overcrowding. KEYWORDS: Probation, parole, community corrections, prison congestion