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Nigeria and United States Prisons: A comparative Analysis of Mass Overcrowding

Gabriel A

The goal of the prison system in both Nigeria and United States prison is to restore an offender to the society after “doing time” and make him useful and productive in the community. The specific goal is re-integration. Since both country’s correctional institutions have the same objective, this dissertation will take a critical look of some weaknesses and strengths of both systems and proffer some recommendations for further study and development.
Generally, in this comparative analysis, this dissertation would be comparing the same things in both countries throughout although this is of course can be difficult as the information may not be available – but this dissertation will work within the available information and data. This dissertation is an offshoot of a research carried out in Nigeria prisons in October 2012. Overcrowding is a thorn in the flesh bedeviling both Nigeria and United State’ prisons; most of the prison cells are not suitable for human inhabitance; hygienic situations are pitiable; occupational, skill acquisition, educational opportunities and reformation exist on paper. There is a high recidivist statistics of inmates who relapse into crime after their release from the correctional facilities, various Non- Governmental Organizations (NGO) and pressure groups have called on the Government to reform the prison system in Nigeria but all measures geared towards this has defied an acceptable solution. In the America systems, there is high recidivism just like what is obtained in Nigeria, the prison system is in a crisis and various commissions has called for a total overhaul of the system.
The criminal justice system in Nigeria and America enforce the law through the court. The judge or the jury has the constitutional power to pass judgment on accused either by the use of community service; probation or fine; jailterm or decide to combine all the punishments within the confines of the law. Therefore, this dissertation will do a critical comparative analysis between Nigeria and United States prison with its focus on mass overcrowding, to find out the causes and the consequences of the problem.
Like the America correctional institutions, Nigeria prisons are rated as maximum and minimum security facilities. While the Nigerian prisons are relatively old, most of the correctional facilities were not designed for the purpose for which they are being used. In Nigeria as in the United States, Parkinson’s Law applies to prison construction; prison populations grow to fill expanding capacity, this growth has led to mass overcrowding and “survival of the fittest”.