Correctional Programmes Within the Prison Community: The Views and Perception of Inmates and Staff in Anambra State Prisons, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the views and perception of prison inmates and staff towards correctional programmes in Anambra State, prisons. The study was anchored on symbolic interactionism theory and employed the cross-sectional survey design; using the proportionate stratified sampling technique in the selection of 396 respondents that cut across various levels of prison inmates and prison officials in four prison locations in Anambra State. The structured questionnaire and In-depth Interview (IDI) Guide served as the instruments for data collection. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to code and analyze the quantitative data. Frequency tables and charts were employed to present and describe the data while the qualitative data were analyzed using the theme-based method of content analysis. The study concluded by recommending the need for periodic training of prison staffs on the current reformation and rehabilitation practices across the world so as to be able to make significant inputs that would help to change or motivate prison inmates’ behaviours for change.

Keywords: Correction, Perception, Programmes, Views, Anambra State prisons