Responding to the Problem of Prison Overcrowding in Nigeria through Restorative Justice: A Challenge to the Traditional Criminal Justice System

Macpherson U Nnam

Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract:

The intrinsic interest of this article is to address the problem of prison overcrowding in Nigeria using restorative justice initiative against the traditional criminal justice system, which places much emphasis on housing offenders and the accused in prisons and thereby causing prison population to increase. Re-integrative shaming theory was used to underpin the article. Contextually, to restore justice is to 'shame' (correct) criminals and deviants, and re-establish and revivify estranged relationships as well as to guard against further breakdown of law and order in society. Restorative justice is an emerging non-custodian, non-punitive and humanistic strategy for the treatment (not punishment) of offenders without recourse to legal battle that often results in remanding one party in prison custody. Considering the encompassing merits of restorative justice, there is an urgent need to officially integrate this alternative to incarceration intervention programme into the Nigerian legal system, as this will go a long way in decongesting the seemingly overpopulated correctional institutions in the country. Here, restorative justice facilitators, victims and their families, offenders and their families, and 'community' as a sole owner of every individual leaving in it, collectively strive to restore justice, order, security, property, and core values in the community.

Keyword:

Challenge, Nigeria, Prison Overcrowding, Problem, Restorative Justice, Traditional Criminal Justice System.