EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICIES AND THE RE-INTEGRATION OF EX-CONVICTS: THE NIGERIAN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM
In a recent development, the Nigeria Prison Service was renamed, “the Nigeria Correction Service”, a move that is designed to reorient the department along the lines of emergent demands of justice dispensation on the global scene. This study examined the extent to which the new Nigeria Correction Service can adjust to the laudable objective of repositioning itself for purposes of reformation and re-integration of the nation’s ex-convicts for a better Nigerian society. Data was obtained from secondary materials including books, periodicals, journals, newspapers, the internet, etc. Content analysis was adopted as the mode of analysis while the theory of social integration (Blau, 1960) was employed as the theoretical framework of the study. Findings revealed that the re-orientation of the “service” for purposes of reformation and reintegration of ex-convicts had long been taking place as many of such citizens had either acquired a good measure of education while in prison, learned various vocations, and even attained higher spiritual growths. The study suggested adequate funding to enhance the effort of the service in achieving its objectives.