The Impact of Alternative Sentencing and Prison Overcrowding in Nigeria: A Study of the Port Harcourt Prison

Abstract

In reality, the congestion in prisons has not been decreased by alternative
sentencing in Nigeria's criminal justice system. The purpose of this study
is to investigate the Impact of alternative sentencing and how it can reduce
jail overcrowding in Port Harcourt. To accomplish this, the researcher felt it
was important to assess the degree of prison overcrowding. The sample
for the study consisted of 500 prison staff members, and the sampling
strategy used was simple random sampling. The study's findings
demonstrated that the sole viable alternative sentencing option in Port
Harcourt's prison is fine. Due to the high crime rate, prolonged court
proceedings, and adjournments of cases, there is a very high degree of
congestion. As a result, there are more people waiting to go to trial. In
conclusion, alternative sentencing is not the sole reason for prison
overpopulation; there are also other causes, such as the court system and
police misconduct prior to arresting offenders. As a result, the researcher
suggests that the National Assembly create more regulations that are
appropriate for the crimes committed by offenders and that the court sit up
and take cases rather than postponing and adjourning them. The
government ought to construct new jails and enlarge the ones that already
exist.