Female Inmates and Young Offenders: A Call for Implementation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019

Abstract

On the 14th August 2019, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari signed into law a bill that repels the Prisons Act CAP P 29, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and provides a change in nomenclature for the foremost correctional institution in Nigeria, Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) to Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) . Apart from the obvious change in name, the Act provides for quite a number of amendments geared towards a total overhaul of the activities of the service and a much expected radical change in the treatment of offenders in Nigeria, as well as an overall more-friendly environment for the inevitable erring and recalcitrant members of our society. This paper looks at the amendments as it relates to females and young offenders and discusses the implications of those amendments in line with International Best Practices and Requirements. It calls for urgent implementation of the novel provisions, for nothing would have been done if the amendments are not given practical realization.

Keywords: Correctional Service, females and young offenders, amendments, implementation

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/130-02

Publication date:March 31^st 2023