Non-Custodial Sanctions And Administration Of Restorative Justice In Wukari Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria
Adikwu Ishaya Agmeshi, Bununu Mohammed Sagir
Keywords: Imprisonment, non-custodial sanctions, recidivism, reformation, offenders
Abstract
Crime rates and recidivism are significantly high in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. Several studies have attributed this social problem to the continuous use of the custodial or prison system, which has been reported to have failed to rehabilitate and reform offenders. This paper discusses non-custodial sanctions as a suitable and sustainable alternative approach to the rehabilitation and reformation of offenders. The study was anchored on Kort-Butler’s social support theory. The theory holds that positive social support from the family; community and government entities can lessen criminogenic behaviour and help rehabilitate, reform and reintegrate offenders into society. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used for the study. Primary data was collected using questionnaires. Twenty (20) respondents were purposely selected from the State High Court, Upper Area Court No.1, Grade 1 Area Court, and the Wukari Medium Nigeria Correctional Services, making it five (5) respondents from each institution. The secondary data consist of data from journals and books. The collected data were analysed using simple percentages. The study’s results revealed that fines and compensation are the most frequent and major forms of non-custodial sanctions in use in Wukari Local Government Area. The study concludes that the high rate of recidivism associated with the custodial and prison system calls for a paradigm shift to non-custodial sanctions. The study recommends that both government and non-governmental organizations should provide social support to disadvantaged individuals, families and communities in order to help reduce criminal activities in Wukari Local Government Area.
Author Biography
ADIKWU, Ishaya Agmeshi
Department of Sociology, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
BUNUNU, Mohammed Sagir
Department of Crime Management, Federal Polytechnic Kaltungo, Gombe State, Nigeria