Conditions and Congestion Level amongst Correctional Services in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Aims: To examine the Nigerian Correctional Service Condition and Congestion level in the Selected States in the Niger Delta Region.

Study Design: Cross sectional survey design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in selected states and location of correctional service in Niger Delta Region which include Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom States between December 2017 and September 2018.

Methodology: Simple random sampling technique was adopted in selecting Three Hundred and Eighty-Seven (387) inmates using the Taro Yarmane Formular from the population of Eleven Thousand Six Hundred and Thirty-Five (11,635). Primary and Secondary data were used for this study. Primary data were obtained through the administration of questionnaire. The set of questionnaires was administered to inmates to elicit information on the facilities and comfortability of the prison and the welfare service available. The secondary source of information that were employed included relevant official publications and records from Nigerian Correctional Service, journal articles, periodicals and internet sources. Frequency, percentage, tables were used in presenting information on Demographic Characteristics of respondents. The hypotheses were tested using the Chi Square Statistical tool.

Results: The result of the study showed that the selected prisons are highly congested in capacity as against the actual capacity.

Conclusion: The study concluded that the selected prisons are congested and the inmate’s welfare are inefficient and ineffective.