Abstract
Currently in Nigeria criminal justice system, the myriad challenge of prison congestion has taken the front burner of social discourse in the area of prison management in the country. Thus, prisons in the South-East Nigeria were areas of interest to the researcher, which formed the basis for this discourse. This study therefore assessed the role of Nigeria correctional service towards improving the welfare of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) in Nigeria Correctional Centres (prisons). Two theories; Marxist theory of crime and symbolic interationism formed the theoretical framework, which were used to explain the problem of the study. Systematic Random Sampling procedure was used to select 384 respondents for the study. The scope of the study is male and female ATPs in Owerri and Awka prisons who were 18 years and above. Data collection from the field was done using qualitative and quantitative instruments, which were Focused Group Discussion (FGD) and Questionnaire respectively. Responses generated through the FGD were analysed using thematic content analysis while the stated hypotheses were tested using Chi-square (X2) statistics. The research found among other things that, unprofessional treatments such as poor dietary, poor medical attention, unequal juxtapositions of awaiting trial and convicted inmates in custody as maltreatments given to ATPs in Owerri and Awka Prison custody. Hence, this study among other things, recommends the need for adequate treatments for persons awaiting trial in Nigerian Prisons custody.