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The Role Of Police On The Administration And Criminal Justice System In Nigeria
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The CJS of a nation represents a system or structure through which the
laws guiding the existence and order of such a society is applied and
the rights of the citizens are upheld. Certain characteristics have been
associated with CJS. They include fairness, justice, equality
effectiveness and efficiency (Alemika, 2014; Alemika & Chukwuma,
2005; Gabbay, 2005). These characteristics spell out equity,
offence-punishment proportionality, constitutionality, public order and
safety and integrity among other things. Criminal justice implies
ascertaining whether or not an accused is guilty of a crime and ensuring
that due process is involved in the determination of guilt or innocence
and the administration of punishment or compensations as appropriate.
Thus, the CJS is a social influencing agent that is concerned with
orderliness, peace and tranquility in most societies. In influencing
others, behaviors can be regulated and managed. However, if the process
of influencing others is, in any form, tainted, then such influence may
become either negative, difficult to achieve and, or, may be met with
outright rebellion and disregard. Therefore in persuading, exerting
influence and ensuring compliance, the agents of influence must be
credible (Ajzen, 1992; Passer, Smith, Atkinson, Mitchell & Muir,
2003). A criminal justice system is a system made up of different agents
charged with the responsibilities of investigating and prosecuting
criminal cases and the correction and rehabilitation of those found
guilty of opposing the laws. (Olonisakin, Ogunleye, and, Adebayo, 2017)
The
principal actors in the Nigeria CJS charged with the responsibility of
maintaining one aspect of the law or the other including: the Economic
and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the Federal Road Safety
Commission (FRSC), the Police, the judges, the prisons and so on are
often said to be enmeshed in ineptitude, corruption, and injustice.
However, this paper focuses on the roles of the police, judges and the
prisons. The reason for this choice is that these three actors are the
length and breadth of the Nigeria CJS (Martins Library, and; Onimajesin,
n.d; “The role of prisonâ€, 2015).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Evaluation
of the effectiveness of the Nigeria CJS is an issue that apparently
requires attention; given the seemingly unchecked lawlessness that
pervades the nation, the phenomenon and increased rate of recidivism in
Nigeria, as in most other societies, and the general opinion and
perception of justice as a mirage. Nigeria criminal justice system ought
to connote an orderly system within which rights of the citizens are
protected and those who err on the side of the law are prosecuted. Thus,
it would be an aberration for this same system to be characterized by
ineptitude and injustice. Because glaringly, a system whose principal
constituents demonstrate utter disregard for the office and purpose for
which they are sworn to uphold is an aberration.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
general objective of this study is to examine role of police on the
effective administration and criminal justice system in Nigeria. The
specific objective are:
1. To ascertain the role of the police on the effective administration and criminal justice system in Nigeria.
2. Determine if the police force alone can achieve an effective administration and criminal justice system in Nigeria.
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