CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OVERCROWDING AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WELL-BEING OF INMATES IN OWERRI CORRECTIONAL CENTRE

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study A prison is a designated facility for confining individuals who have either been convicted of crimes or are awaiting trial. It encompasses not only the physical infrastructure such as buildings and land but also includes all internal structures used for the purpose of incarceration. The establishment of formal prison administration in Nigeria dates back to the colonial era, following British models. In 1862, Governor H.S. Freeman was tasked with appointing judges and other legal officers, which subsequently led to the creation of the first prison system based on British practices. Consequently, Broad Street Prison was constructed in Lagos in 1872, while the legal framework for establishing prisons—the prison ordinance—was introduced alongside the Supreme Court ordinance in 1876. That year marked the formal beginning of prison administration in Nigeria. However, between 1876 and 1920, the Nigerian police force was responsible for managing the prison system, until the responsibility was officially transferred from the police in 1920. In contemporary Nigeria, prison overcrowding is a pressing issue that arises when the inmate population exceeds the carrying capacity of correctional facilities, making it impossible to accommodate prisoners in a manner that ensures their physical, mental, and emotional health. This condition, commonly referred to as “congestion,” is especially prevalent in prisons situated in urban centers. In many such facilities, prison cells accommodate twice or even three times their intended number of occupants. Under such conditions, inmates are often unable to move their limbs or bodies freely due to limited space. Each prisoner is typically assigned a minimal personal space—often no more than one and a half feet wide—referred to as a “post.” The majority of Nigerian prisons face serious overcrowding, which poses significant challenges to the effective management of correctional processes, particularly in terms of inmate reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Notably, despite a significant rise in prison populations over the past two decades, the capacity of Nigerian correctional facilities has remained largely unchanged. Many of these prisons were originally constructed during the colonial period or under native authorities, well before Nigeria’s independence in 1960. Presently, these facilities are in a state of disrepair, largely due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance by successive governments. Most colonial-era prisons are deteriorating rapidly and are on the verge of collapse. While a few new prisons have been built in recent decades, they are often constructed using substandard materials and fail to meet global standards for modern correctional facilities. Examples include Gusau Medium Prison, the new Kebbi Prison (1991), Kirikiri Medium Security Prison (1993), and Funtua, Oyo, and Eket Prisons built between 2003 and 2007. Although imprisonment continues to be regarded as the most effective form of punishment for offenders, the number of incarcerated individuals has surged dramatically in recent years, contributing to severe overcrowding. This overcrowding negatively affects inmates' psychological, physiological, and behavioral health (Crystal, 2004). The situation has been further exacerbated by systemic delays in the Nigerian judicial process, leading to an influx of individuals awaiting trial. This has resulted in an unprecedented rise in the prison population—a development repeatedly noted by scholars and legal experts. Aduba (2005) noted that between 1978 and 1981, the official capacity of Nigeria’s prisons was 27,257. However, during the same period, the average inmate population far exceeded this number—32,332 in 1978; 34,770 in 1979; 35,332 in 1980; and 38,477 in 1981 (Nigeria Prison Services, 1978–1981). The overcrowding rate during those years was recorded as 18.61% in 1978, 27.56% in 1979, 29.43% in 1980, and 41.16% in 1981. As of the most recent available data, Nigerian correctional facilities house approximately 49,000 inmates across 234 prisons. Of this population, only 20% are convicted prisoners, while the remaining 80% are awaiting trial (Amnesty International Report, 2012). The consequences of this overcrowding are apparent in conditions where inmates lack adequate sleeping space, access to nutritious food, proper healthcare, or meaningful rehabilitation activities. There is also insufficient staff to ensure safety, inadequate infrastructure to separate distinct categories of inmates (such as juveniles from adults or convicts from those awaiting trial), and no room for additional admissions—forcing authorities to resort to emergency measures such as granting amnesties, using temporary facilities, or holding inmates in police cells. This study, therefore, focuses on examining the impact of prison overcrowding on the well-being of inmates, with specific reference to the Owerri Correctional Centre. 1.2 Statement of the Problem Overcrowding in correctional institutions is a growing global concern, and the situation at the Owerri Correctional Centre in Nigeria exemplifies this crisis. Originally designed to accommodate a limited number of inmates, the facility now grapples with extreme congestion, housing a population that far exceeds its built capacity. This overcrowding not only deteriorates the living standards of the incarcerated individuals but also severely affects their physical and mental well-being. To begin with, the dense population within the Owerri Correctional Centre significantly elevates the risk of communicable disease transmission. In an environment where physical distancing is unattainable, illnesses such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and various respiratory infections spread with alarming speed. The situation is further aggravated by inadequate ventilation, substandard sanitation, and poor hygiene, all of which contribute to a health crisis among inmates. Furthermore, the overwhelming inmate population places an immense strain on already limited resources, resulting in diminished access to basic necessities such as food, clean drinking water, and medical services. This insufficiency leads to malnutrition, dehydration, and a host of untreated health conditions. Beyond the physical implications, the scarcity of resources exacerbates psychological distress among inmates, manifesting in increased levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. Moreover, the overcrowded conditions foster a hostile and volatile atmosphere within the facility. Inmates are forced into extremely close quarters, eliminating personal space and privacy. This environment breeds tension and frustration, which often culminates in violent altercations over limited resources. Such situations not only endanger the safety of both inmates and correctional staff but also undermine the fundamental goals of incarceration—reformation and rehabilitation. Given the grave consequences of overcrowding on the overall welfare of inmates, it is essential to address the issue with urgency. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the implications of correctional center congestion on the well-being of inmates, focusing specifically on conditions at the Owerri Correctional Centre. 1.3 Research questions The following questions have been prepared to guide the study 1. To what extent does congestion leads to increased risk of disease transmission among inmates? 2. To what extent does congestion reduced access to basic necessities among inmates? 3. To what extent does congestion leads to increased risk of violence among inmates 1.4 Objectives of the study Generally, the study examine the correctional center congestion and well being of inmates in Owerri correctional center. The specific objectives is as follows 1. To examine the extent congestion leads to increased risk of disease transmission among inmates 2. To determine the extent congestion reduced access to basic necessities among inmates 3. To investigate the extent congestion leads to increased risk of violence among inmates 1.5 Research Hypotheses The stated hypotheses have been formulated to guide the study H01: The extent congestion leads to increased risk of disease transmission among inmates is low H02: The extent congestion reduced access to basic necessities among inmates is low H03: The extent congestion leads to increased risk of violence among inmates is low 1.6 Significance of the study The findings of this research work will undoubtedly provide the much needed information to government agency, prison service, individual and academia. 1.7 Definition of Key Terms Overcrowding: Overcrowding refers to a situation in which the number of individuals confined in a correctional facility exceeds its designed capacity, leading to limited access to space, resources, and services necessary for adequate living conditions and rehabilitation. Correctional Centre: A correctional centre, also known as a prison or penitentiary, is a facility where individuals who have been convicted of crimes are detained and rehabilitated under lawful authority. Inmates: Inmates are individuals who have been legally confined in a correctional centre as a result of criminal conviction or while awaiting trial. Well-being: Well-being refers to the overall physical, mental, emotional, and social health of inmates, encompassing their access to healthcare, nutrition, personal safety, psychological support, and opportunities for personal development. Implications: Implications denote the possible consequences, effects, or outcomes—either direct or indirect—that result from a particular condition, such as overcrowding, on the welfare and rehabilitation prospects of inmates.