Journal of Psychiatry

The influence of perceived prison overcrowding and demographic variables on inmates violent behaviour in Nigeria prisons

4^th Euro-Global Congress on Psychiatrists & Forensic Psychology

November 10-11, 2016 Alicante, Spain

Awopetu Ronke Grace

Benue State University, Nigeria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

This study examined the influence of perceived prison overcrowding on violent behaviour of prison inmates. A questionnaire was administered in a survey design to 980 inmates (both awaiting trials and convicted) randomly drawn from three prisons in southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The questionnaire consisted three sections: section A measures demographic variables, section B measures perceived prison overcrowding and section C measures prison violence. Four hypotheses were tested using t-test and multiple regression analysis. The results of the t-tests revealed a significant difference between inmates with high perception and low perception on violent behaviour t=df(916)=-8.91; p<.05. The result of multiple regression analysis indicates that all the demographic variables contributed in the joint influence while age and educational status did not contribute significantly in independent influence {F(7,883)=16.7342 P<.001; R=.363 and R2=.117)}. Based on this study, it is therefore recommended that programs and policies that will increase the wellbeing of the prison inmates and reduce the frequency of violence in prison should be embraced, as this will improve the lives of the inmates, and the aim of reintegrate prison inmates back to the larger society can be achieved.

Biography :

Email: awopeturonke@gmail.com