Colonial Systems of Control


Book Description

A pioneering book on prisons in West Africa, Colonial Systems of Control: Criminal Justice in Nigeria is the first comprehensive presentation of life inside a West African prison. Chapters by prisoners inside Kirikiri maximum security prison in Lagos, Nigeria are published alongside chapters by scholars and activists. While prisoners document the daily realities and struggles of life inside a Nigerian prison, scholar and human rights activist Viviane Saleh-Hanna provides historical, political, and academic contexts and analyses of the penal system in Nigeria. The European penal models and institutions imported to Nigeria during colonialism are exposed as intrinsically incoherent with the community-based conflict-resolution principles of most African social structures and justice models. This book presents the realities of imprisonment in Nigeria while contextualizing the colonial legacies that have resulted in the inhumane brutalities that are endured on a daily basis. Keywords: Nigeria, West Africa, penal system, maximum-security prison. Published in English.




Urbanisation and Crime in Nigeria


Book Description

This book uses crime-science and traditional criminological approaches to explore urban crime in the rapidly urbanising country Nigeria, as a case study for urban crime in developing nations. In Africa’s largest democracy, rapid unmanaged growth in its cities combined with decaying public infrastructure mean that risk factors accumulate and deepen the potential for urban crime. This book includes a thorough explanation of key concepts alongside an examination of the contemporary configuration, dynamics, dimensions, drivers and potential responses to urban crime challenges. The authors also discuss a range of methodological techniques and applications that can be used, including spatial technologies to generate new data for analysis. It brings together history, theory, trends, patterns, drivers, repercussions and responses to provide a deep analysis of the challenges that confront urban dwellers. Urbanisation and Crime in Nigeria offers academics, researchers, governments, civil society organisations, citizens, and international partners a tool with which to engage in a serious dialogue about crime within cities, based on evidence and good practices from inside and outside sub-Saharan Africa.







Criminology in Nigeria


Book Description

Criminology in Nigeria: History, Evolution, and Trends explores the threads of the criminal justice system in Nigeria through past, present, and future. Tracing the roots of law and criminology in Nigeria, this book elucidates the dynamic nature and impact of Nigeria’s criminal justice system. It sheds light on the various influences of the Nigerian criminal justice system, different types of crimes, and various sentencing practices. By doing so, the book encourages readers to engage in a more critical examination of research and strategies related to security and public safety in Nigeria. This book is an essential resource that caters to students, scholars, researchers, and practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of Nigeria’s criminal justice system and the evolving shape of justice in Nigeria.




Global Perspectives on Reforming the Criminal Justice System


Book Description

The often-tenuous relationship between law enforcement and communities of color, namely African Americans, has grown increasingly strained, and the call for justice has once again ignited the demand for criminal justice reform. Rebuilding the trust between the police and the citizens that they have sworn to protect and serve requires that criminal justice practitioners and educators collaborate with elected officials and commit to an open, ongoing dialogue on the most challenging issues that remain unresolved but demand collective attention and support. Reform measures are not limited to policing policies and practices, but rather extend throughout the criminal justice system. There is no denying that the criminal justice system as we know it is flawed, but not beyond repair. Global Perspectives on Reforming the Criminal Justice System provides in-depth and current research about the criminal justice system around the world, its many inadequacies, and why it urgently needs reformation. Offering a fully fleshed outline of the current system, this book details the newest research and is incredibly important to fully understand the flaws of the criminal justice system across the globe. The goals of this book are to improve and advance the criminal justice system by addressing the glaring weaknesses within the system and discuss potential reforms including decreasing the prison population (decarceration) and improving police/community relations. Highlighting topics that include accountability, community-oriented policing, ethics, and mass incarceration, this book is ideal for law enforcement officers, trainers/educators, government officials, policymakers, correctional officers, court officials, professionals, researchers, academicians, and students in the fields of criminal justice, criminology, sociology, psychology, addictions, mental health, social work, public policy, and public administration.




Nigerian Legal Methods


Book Description

This text is a collection of writings on assigned topics by some scholars and lecturers in the Faculty of Law at Benson Idahosa University and those invited from outside the university. The idea to write a text for use in the study of legal methods for law students was borne out of the desire to present a range of updated material in this area of study. The focus of this text is Nigeria. The book is written in simple, easy-to-understand language, and meant essentially for law students in the first year of the five year course in Law, as structured by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Nevertheless, persons who are in need of information or education on different aspects of the Nigerian legal process will also find aspects of the text useful. The contributors come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, which is reflected in their styles of presentation. However, each has endeavoured to present the assigned topic in such a form as to enhance comprehension by the primary beneficiaries. The inclusion of chapters on advocacy and mooting skills, as well as examination skills and strategies, makes this text unique, and allows it to offer more detailed analysis than existing texts in Nigeria provide.




This Present Darkness


Book Description

Traces the origins of Nigerian organized crime, going back to the final years of colonial rule.




Judicial Integrity


Book Description

Traditional separation of powers theories assumed that governmental despotism will be prevented by dividing the branches of government which will check one another. Modern governments function with unexpected complicity among these branches. Sometimes one of the branches becomes overwhelming. Other governmental structures, however, tend to mitigate these tendencies to domination. Among other structures courts have achieved considerable autonomy vis-à-vis the traditional political branches of power. They tend to maintain considerable distance from political parties in the name of professionalism and expertise. The conditions and criteria of independence are not clear, and even less clear are the conditions of institutional integrity. Independence (including depolitization) of public institutions is of particular practical relevance in the post-Communist countries where political partisanship penetrated institutions under the single party system. Institutional integrity, particularly in the context of administration of justice, became a precondition for accession to the European Union. Given this practical challenge the present volume is centered around three key areas of institutional integrity, primarily within the administration of justice: First, in a broader theoretical-interdisciplinary context the criteria of institutional independence are discussed. The second major issue is the relation of neutralized institutions to branches of government with reference to accountability. Thirdly, comparative experience regarding judicial independence is discussed to determine techniques to enhance integrity.




The Causes of Instability in Nigeria and Implications for the United States


Book Description

The political economy problems of Nigeria, the root cause for ethnic, religious, political and economic strife, can be in part addressed indirectly through focused contributions by the U.S. military, especially if regionally aligned units are more thoroughly employed.




Human Rights and Traditional Justice Systems in Africa


Book Description

This publication defines the nature and characteristics of traditional justice systems, including issues related to jurisdiction, community involvement, composition, and a primary focus on restorative justice.