AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE  CORRECTIONAL CENTER CONGESTION AND WELL BEING OF INMATES IN OWERRI CORRECTIONAL CENTER

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

A prison is an establishment where criminals, those convicted of a crime, and those awaiting trial are housed. It encompasses the property, the home, and every other building inside the facility that is utilised for incarceration. When the then-Governor, H.S. Freeman, was commissioned, among other things, to nominate judges and other officials in 1862, this resulted in the construction of the first jail administration, modelled on British practice, and staffed by officers schooled in the same tradition. As a result, the Supreme Court law and the jail legislation that established the prison were approved in 1876, while the Broad Street jail was constructed in Lagos in 1872 (Aduba, 2015). As a result, the Nigerian prison system was established in 1876 with the enactment of the jail legislation. However, it was run by the police department from 1876 to 1920. But by 1920, the police were no longer in charge of running Nigeria's jail system. When a prison's capacity is exceeded to the point where convicts cannot be held in a humane, healthful, and psychologically sound manner, the situation is known as overcrowding in Nigerian prisons. In Nigeria, congestion is the common term for overpopulation. It poses a significant problem to Nigerian prisons, particularly those situated in the country's major cities. In Nigeria, these kind of jails may house up to three times as many inmates as they can accommodate. Prisoners hardly have enough room in these cells to move their bodies and limbs freely. Each prisoner in such a state is given a "post," which is around a foot and a half in size(Aduba, 2015). The majority of Nigeria's prisons are packed and crowded, which poses serious challenges to the reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration processes involved in prison administration. In spite of the concerning rise in the jail population, Nigerian prison capacity has been essentially unchanged over the last 20 years(Crystal, 2015). The colonial government and indigenous authorities constructed these jails before Nigeria gained its independence in 1960.These jails' frighteningly deplorable circumstances, which show a lengthy history of negligence on the part of the Nigerian government, are indicative of a lack of upkeep or refurbishment. In actuality, the majority of the jails built at this time are outdated, dilapidated, and in danger of collapsing. Few prisons, meanwhile, have been built using the majority of inferior materials—a long cry from the jails that exist now all across the world. Gusua Medium Prison, Kebbi New jails (1991), Medium Security Prisons Kirikiri (1993), Funtia (2003), Oyo and Eket Prisons (2007), and Kebbi New Prisons (1991) are some examples of these new jails. Although incarceration is seen to be the most efficient way to punish offenders, the number of inmates in Nigeria has increased significantly over the past several decades, to the point that overcrowding has resulted. The mental, physical, and behavioural health of the prisoners is often affected by overcrowding (Crystal, 2015). Scholars and legal critics have frequently identified and characterised the nation's jail population as growing at an unprecedented rate, which is the result of the large intake of detainees that started recently due to delays in the judicial process. According to Aduba (2015), there were 27,257 prison beds available between 1978 and 1981. However, according to Nigeria Prison Services (1978–1981), the average monthly population was 32,332 in 1978, 34,770 in 1979, 35,332 in 1980, and 38,477 in 1981. Thus, 18.61 in 1978, 27.56 in 1979, 29.43 in 1980, and 41.16 in 1981 were the percentages of "overcrowding." Presently, 234 prisons in Nigeria house 49,000 inmates, of which 20% are convicted criminals and the others are awaiting trial (Amnesty International Report, 2022).This imaginable state of overcrowding is relatively easy to identify when one observes conditions such as inadequate sleeping quarters for inmates; inadequate facilities for food, medical attention, or any constructive activities; inadequate staffing to guarantee the security of inmates; insufficient housing for distinct prisoner types young adults and adults awaiting trial from those found guilty; or insufficient capacity to admit additional inmates, necessitating emergency measures such as amnesty, emergency housing, or the placement of inmates in police custody. Therefore, the researcher sought to investigates the  correctional center congestion and well being of inmates in Owerri correctional center 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The Owerri Correctional Centre in Nigeria is only one example of how overcrowding in prisons has become a major global concern. Although the prison was built to hold a restricted number of prisoners, it is currently overcrowded and houses many more people than it was intended to. The prisoners' living circumstances are made worse by the overcrowding, which also negatively affects their health and general wellbeing. First off, the risk of illness transmission among prisoners is greatly increased by the congestion in the Correctional Centre. In close quarters, where physical separation is nearly impossible, infectious illnesses like HIV/AIDS, TB, and other respiratory infections proliferate quickly. This issue is exacerbated by inadequate ventilation, which, when combined with inadequate sanitation and hygiene measures, creates a climate that is ideal for the growth of diseases. Second, access to needs like food, clean water, and medical care is severely limited as a result of the congested conditions. Malnutrition, dehydration, and untreated medical issues are the results of the expanding prison population's demands being unmet by the already overburdened resources. Inmates' mental and physical health are both impacted by this lack of access to necessary treatments, which increases tension and worry in them.  Finally, there is evidence connecting the overcrowding in Correctional Centre to a higher risk of violence among prisoners. Personal space becomes a premium in an extremely stressed environment created by overcrowding, which increases hostility and fuels fights over scarce resources. Both prisoners and staff are at risk from violent outbursts brought on by the lack of privacy and continual close quarters with others. This tumultuous environment not only compromises the security and safety of the prison but also undercuts attempts at rehabilitation as the emphasis moves from change to merely surviving.  Hence, this study seeks to investigate the  impact of correctional center congestion on well being of inmates in Owerri correctional center.

1.3 Objectives of the study 

The broad objective of the study is to  investigate the  correctional center congestion and well being of inmates in Owerri correctional center. The specific objectives is as follows

To investigate the causative factors of correctional center congestion 

examine whether correctional center congestion leads to increased risk of disease transmission among inmates 

determine whether correctional center congestion reduced access to basic necessities among inmates 

To investigate whether correctional center congestion leads to increased risk of violence among inmates

1.4 Research questions

The following questions have been prepared to guide the study

What are the causative factors of correctional center congestion ?

Does  correctional center congestion leads to increased risk of disease transmission among inmates?

Does correctional center congestion reduced access to basic necessities among inmates ?

Does correctional center congestion leads to increased risk of violence among inmates?

1.5 Significance of the study

The findings of this research work will  serve as a basis for revising policies related to inmate population management and correctional facility expansion. It will encourage legislative actions aimed at decongesting correctional centers through alternatives like community service or parole. Findings of the study will also be significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature, add to library resources and serve as a guide too future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the study

The study focus on  the  correctional center congestion and well being of inmates in Owerri correctional center. Empirically, the study will investigate the causative factors of correctional center congestion, examine whether correctional center congestion leads to increased risk of disease transmission among inmates, determine whether correctional center congestion reduced access to basic necessities among inmates and investigate whether correctional center congestion leads to increased risk of violence among inmates.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to the Owerri correctional center.

1.7 Limitation Of The Study

Like in every human endeavour, the researcher encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. More so, the researcher simultaneously engaged in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

Moreover, the case study method utilized in the study posed some challenges to the investigator including the possibility of biases and poor judgment of issues. However, the investigator relied on respect for the general principles of procedures, justice, fairness, objectivity in observation and recording, and weighing of evidence to overcome the challenges.

1.8 Definition of terms

Correctional Center: A facility where individuals who are convicted of crimes are held in custody for punishment and rehabilitation. In this context, it refers to the Owerri Correctional Center in Nigeria.

Congestion: The overcrowding of inmates beyond the designed capacity of the correctional facility, leading to inadequate space, poor living conditions, and strain on available resources.

Well-being: The overall condition of the inmates, including their physical, mental, emotional, and social health, affected by factors such as living conditions, access to healthcare, and the quality of rehabilitation programs.

Inmates: Individuals who are legally confined in the correctional center, serving a sentence or awaiting trial, often subjected to the conditions within the facility.

Overcrowding: A situation where the number of inmates exceeds the correctional center's capacity, potentially causing poor sanitation, limited access to medical care, and deterioration in the inmates' overall well-being.

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