African Prisons
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BRIDGING THE FUNDING GAP IN CORRECTIONS: THE URGENT NEED FOR INCREASED FINANCIAL VITAMINS IN AFRICAN CORRECTIONS SERVICES.
By
Osisioma B.C. Nwolise, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan:
Visiting Professor,
Department of International Relations and Strategic Studies,
Igbinedion University, Okada.
Nigeria.
EMBARGOED UNTIL 13 SEPTEMBER 2010
Paper Presented At The Biennial Conference of the African Correctional Services Association, held in Accra, Ghana, September 13-17, 2010.
I. INTRODUCTION
Background Discourse
In the life of a person, or social entity, there comes a time when a watershed decision has to be made to abandon the path of retrogression for that of catalysed progressive locomotion. For the people of Africa, that time is now in the area of Corrections Administration. All over the world, interned inmates (prisoners) “are generally regarded as criminals, yet the way a nation treats her prisoners is a good measure of the humanity of its government and citizens”.1 African societies, prior to the invasion of the continent by the slave driver (1440s) and colonial master (1850s) had their respective and effective criminal justice systems, but no prisons.
There were laws, (unwritten constitution, traditions, customs, codes of morality, conventions, covenants, and pronouncements of kings – in- Council); law enforcement institutions (King’s messengers, the youths, age grades, female groups2, secret societies, masquerades etc), courts3 (King’s court4, peoples Court, etc), and corrections processes aimed not at punitive and retributive goals but at delivering justice, and restoring and promoting social harmony through restoration/restitution and compensation.
George informs us that African communities prior to colonialism observed four major principles in the maintenance of peace, and management of disputes which are:
a) Settlement of disputes by peaceful deliberation, not force.
b)...
By
Osisioma B.C. Nwolise, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan:
Visiting Professor,
Department of International Relations and Strategic Studies,
Igbinedion University, Okada.
Nigeria.
EMBARGOED UNTIL 13 SEPTEMBER 2010
Paper Presented At The Biennial Conference of the African Correctional Services Association, held in Accra, Ghana, September 13-17, 2010.
I. INTRODUCTION
Background Discourse
In the life of a person, or social entity, there comes a time when a watershed decision has to be made to abandon the path of retrogression for that of catalysed progressive locomotion. For the people of Africa, that time is now in the area of Corrections Administration. All over the world, interned inmates (prisoners) “are generally regarded as criminals, yet the way a nation treats her prisoners is a good measure of the humanity of its government and citizens”.1 African societies, prior to the invasion of the continent by the slave driver (1440s) and colonial master (1850s) had their respective and effective criminal justice systems, but no prisons.
There were laws, (unwritten constitution, traditions, customs, codes of morality, conventions, covenants, and pronouncements of kings – in- Council); law enforcement institutions (King’s messengers, the youths, age grades, female groups2, secret societies, masquerades etc), courts3 (King’s court4, peoples Court, etc), and corrections processes aimed not at punitive and retributive goals but at delivering justice, and restoring and promoting social harmony through restoration/restitution and compensation.
George informs us that African communities prior to colonialism observed four major principles in the maintenance of peace, and management of disputes which are:
a) Settlement of disputes by peaceful deliberation, not force.
b)...