Gender and the treatment of the offender: A comparative study of the treatment of male and female prisoners in Nigeria

Abstract

Following the increasing evidence of differentials in the prison treatment of male and female offenders, especially in the underdeveloped countries, this study sets out to investigate the extent of such gender differences in Nigeria. Purposely, the study aims to discover whether male and female inmates perceive their prison treatment and experiences differently, and whether there is any correlation between such perception and their readjustment. Results show that male and female inmates do not have any significant difference in their perception about prison treatment and that there was a negative relationship between males’ and females’ attitude toward imprisonment. However, it was recommended that prison officials and policy makers should employ gender-neutral practices that promote equal opportunities for both male and female offenders.

Keywords: prison treatment, gender opportunities and readjustment.