(Supervisor-approved format) Chapter one 

Introduction

1.1 Background to the study

1.2 Statement of the problem

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY       

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.5 HYPOTHESES

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

1.7   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

                                                           CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION

2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter discusses the research methodology. It entails the method used to carry out the research work and also explains the research design that was used for the study, sample design, methods used in collecting data and how the results data are analyzed.

3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN

3.3 POPULATION OF STUDY

3.4 SAMPLING TECHNIQUE AND SAMPLE SIZE

3.5 SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION

3.6 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT

3.7 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT

3.8 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

   CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS, FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1.1       BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Crime and criminal activity remain one of the most pressing problems facing numerous societies globally. The state and criminal justice system have continually searched for the most effective means of curtailing crime to guarantee security within their borders.. One of the biggest issues that have continued to be faced by the criminal justice system is the problem of recidivism, which is defined as the likelihood of a criminal being released from custody and committing crimes again.. In Nigeria, the problem of recidivism has received growing attention from policy makers, criminologists, and social welfare experts who acknowledge the inadequacy of punishment as a tool in discouraging offenders from indulging in crimes repeatedly. Rather, more efforts are being made to engage in rehabilitating offenders and re-integrating them back into the community, which is aimed at keeping them from re-offending. The importance of rehabilitating offenders cannot be understated in relation to local governments, which are directly affected by crime and where re-integration occurs.

In criminal justice, rehabilitation is the process of equipping offenders with the necessary skills, attitudes, and behaviors to lead lawful lives upon their discharge from incarceration. The emphasis of this process involves tackling the root causes of criminal activity, including unemployment, poverty, lack of education, drug addiction, and dysfunctional social systems. Some forms of rehabilitation include educational and vocational courses, counseling, psychological treatment, and other forms of community rehabilitation programs. Through these programs, offenders gain skills and knowledge to make them useful members of the community and hence decrease the possibility of committing offenses in the future. According to Andrews and Bonta (2017), the rehabilitation of an offender should aim at fulfilling criminogenic needs because they are responsible for criminal activities..

Reformation, while similar to rehabilitation, puts more stress on the moral and behavioral aspects. It implies that there should be an alteration in the offender’s mindset, beliefs, and attitudes towards crime and society. It intends to make the offender feel responsible and accountable.... Reformation can be sought in the corrections process by way of religion, moral instruction, mentoring, and involvement in the community. This is done with the goal of making offenders realize the negative impact of what they do and make them think of better ways to live. According to scholars, reformation is an integral part of the correctional process because it focuses on the psychological and social aspect of criminality (Clear et al., 2020). This is because without any change in offenders’ attitudes and values, they will continue in criminal activities.

Recidivism has been a common subject of study in criminology since it is considered a vital determinant of the efficiency of correctional facilities and criminal justice strategies. The high level of recidivism indicates the inability of prisons and correctional facilities to fulfill their main objective of rehabilitating offenders. Some of the issues responsible for recidivism in Nigeria include prison congestion, insufficient funding, and lack of rehabilitation services in correctional facilities.. However, many of those who are released from prison do not have the necessary skills or assistance that will enable them to lead better lives after their release, making it easier for them to commit crimes. In addition, because of the discrimination that is often faced by ex-offenders, securing jobs and adequate shelter may become challenging, thus pushing some individuals to engage in criminal behavior.