CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH GROUP
Focus: Basic, as well as applied research in criminal law, criminology and criminal justice administration. Research in such areas as resolving the delay syndrome in criminal trials, victim rights and victim support, treatment of offenders, developing fair and consistent methods of criminal dispute resolution, development of an appropriate juvenile justice system, and critical legal analysis of criminal legislation and policies, etc, will be carried out.
Coordinator: Dr Chukwunweike Anukenyi Ogbuabor
Email: chukwunweike.ogbuabor@unn.edu.ng; chukwunweikeogbuabor@gmail.com
PHONE: 08033379239
Email: chukwunweike.ogbuabor@unn.edu.ng; chukwunweikeogbuabor@gmail.com
PHONE: 08033379239
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In spite of efforts to make the criminal justice system efficient and effective, large scale dissatisfaction with the operation of the criminal justice system continues to dominate the criminal justice system. The police, the court system and the prison system continue to generate wide ranging criticisms.
The legal system must rise up to the challenge of developing laws and institutions as well as frameworks to improve criminal justice administration in Nigeria and bring the criticisms to a manageable level.
The Criminal Justice Research Group is a Faculty-Based research group domiciled in the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus which aims to conduct studies and inquiries into the various aspects of criminal justice administration in Nigeria to the end that criminal justice system may be perceived as efficient, effective and humane.
In spite of efforts to make the criminal justice system efficient and effective, large scale dissatisfaction with the operation of the criminal justice system continues to dominate the criminal justice system. The police, the court system and the prison system continue to generate wide ranging criticisms.
The legal system must rise up to the challenge of developing laws and institutions as well as frameworks to improve criminal justice administration in Nigeria and bring the criticisms to a manageable level.
The Criminal Justice Research Group is a Faculty-Based research group domiciled in the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus which aims to conduct studies and inquiries into the various aspects of criminal justice administration in Nigeria to the end that criminal justice system may be perceived as efficient, effective and humane.
RESEARCH FOCUS
Basic, as well as applied research in criminal law, criminology and criminal justice administration. Research in such areas as resolving the delay syndrome in criminal trials, victim rights and victim support, treatment of offenders, developing fair and consistent methods of criminal dispute resolution, development of an appropriate juvenile justice system, and critical legal analysis of criminal legislation and policies, etc, will be carried out.
Basic, as well as applied research in criminal law, criminology and criminal justice administration. Research in such areas as resolving the delay syndrome in criminal trials, victim rights and victim support, treatment of offenders, developing fair and consistent methods of criminal dispute resolution, development of an appropriate juvenile justice system, and critical legal analysis of criminal legislation and policies, etc, will be carried out.
JUSTIFICATION
The Nigerian criminal justice system is adversarial or accusatorial in nature. It involves undue delay, costs and expenses. It emphasizes technicalities and formal justice. It generally ignores victim’s needs, interests or concerns – victim satisfaction is very low. It emphasizes punishment/retribution while paying scant regard to restoration and restitution. The Police, Prisons, and Courts are faced with daunting and overwhelming problems and challenges. Recidivism is high. The Juvenile justice system remains a sore point demanding urgent and critical attention. It is believed that one of the major reasons for dysfunctional criminal justice system in most colonized commonwealth countries of Africa is the imposition of the adversarial system over the traditional inquisitorial system. Resolution of criminal disputes in traditional Nigerian societies which was founded on the inquisitorial model of criminal justice was overthrown and replaced by the current adversarial process by the force of colonization. Today, there are efforts to rediscover that inquisitorial system in the form of ADR in the criminal justice system which places the criminal justice system in a dilemma. Societies especially in colonized countries lack appropriate theoretical, legal and institutional framework for the efficient and effective operation of the criminal justice system hence the need to carry out further researches in this area.
The Nigerian criminal justice system is adversarial or accusatorial in nature. It involves undue delay, costs and expenses. It emphasizes technicalities and formal justice. It generally ignores victim’s needs, interests or concerns – victim satisfaction is very low. It emphasizes punishment/retribution while paying scant regard to restoration and restitution. The Police, Prisons, and Courts are faced with daunting and overwhelming problems and challenges. Recidivism is high. The Juvenile justice system remains a sore point demanding urgent and critical attention. It is believed that one of the major reasons for dysfunctional criminal justice system in most colonized commonwealth countries of Africa is the imposition of the adversarial system over the traditional inquisitorial system. Resolution of criminal disputes in traditional Nigerian societies which was founded on the inquisitorial model of criminal justice was overthrown and replaced by the current adversarial process by the force of colonization. Today, there are efforts to rediscover that inquisitorial system in the form of ADR in the criminal justice system which places the criminal justice system in a dilemma. Societies especially in colonized countries lack appropriate theoretical, legal and institutional framework for the efficient and effective operation of the criminal justice system hence the need to carry out further researches in this area.
SOME PROPOSED RESEARCH TOPICS
Some of the proposed research topics include: The use the Ombudsman in Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System; Theoretical Basis for the use of ADR in the criminal justice System; Developing an Effective and Efficient Juvenile justice System in Nigeria; Genderizing crime in Nigeria; Developing an effective Sentencing regime in Nigeria, etc.
Some of the proposed research topics include: The use the Ombudsman in Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System; Theoretical Basis for the use of ADR in the criminal justice System; Developing an Effective and Efficient Juvenile justice System in Nigeria; Genderizing crime in Nigeria; Developing an effective Sentencing regime in Nigeria, etc.
COMPOSTION OF RESEARCH GROUP
The research group comprises eminently qualified academics from the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus. They are:
Prof. G. O. S. Amadi
Dr. Chukwunweike Anukenyi Ogbuabor
Dr. Emmanuel Onyeabor
Mr. Sylvester Anya
Mr. Callistus Iyidiobi
The research group comprises eminently qualified academics from the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus. They are:
Prof. G. O. S. Amadi
Dr. Chukwunweike Anukenyi Ogbuabor
Dr. Emmanuel Onyeabor
Mr. Sylvester Anya
Mr. Callistus Iyidiobi
W A T
