Strategies for Preventing Jail Breaks in Correctional Centers in South- East, Nigeria

Abstract

This work examined the strategies for preventing jailbreaks in correctional centers in South-East, Nigeria. For the past two decades now, the Nigerian Correctional Centers across the states have witnessed one form of jail breaks or Correctional Centre breaks or the other and this has continued to pose a serious threat to the society. The regulatory capture theory and frustration-aggression theory were adopted as the theoretical framework. The study adopted the mixed methods research design, Multistage Sampling procedure was used in the selection of 999 respondents. The target population was 9,878, it consisted of inmates and officers in Federal Correctional Centers in South-East, Nigeria. The questionnaire and In-Depth Interview (IDI) guide served as instruments for data collection. The quantitative data were coded and processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Frequency tables, simple percentages and graphic illustrations were used to analyze, describe and present the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were transcribed manually and analyzed using thematic method.The findings from the respondents indicated that infrastructure should be improved. This suggests that many respondents believe that enhancing the physical conditions and security features of correctional facilities is crucial for preventing escapes. Following infrastructure improvements, the next most supported measure is improving the logistic system. This indicates that respondents see value in optimizing how resources are allocated and managed within correctional facilities. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that the  infrastructure in correctional centers should be improved and corruption within the criminal justice system should also be addressed.