COMMUNITY PERCEPTION ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ZARIA CORRECTIONAL CENTER, KADUNA STATE

This study investigated community perception of the effectiveness of Zaria Correctional Centre, Kaduna State adopting a descriptive survey research design and anchored on ‘resistance theory’. The population of the study comprised all adults in Zaria Local Government Area, a sample of 400 adult community members was selected using a purposive sampling technique. The study used a validated structured questionnaire to collect primary data, while frequency/percentage analysis, Chi-Square goodness of fit test, and independent samples t-test were used for data analysis. Findings from the study revealed that community members have a negative perception of the effectiveness of Zaria Correctional Centre, Kaduna State. The study also found no significant difference in the perception of the effectiveness of Zaria Correctional Centre between male and female community members. Consequently, the study recommended that the government of Nigeria should endeavour to improve funds allocation to the Correctional Centre for the effective discharge of its core function of rehabilitation, reformation, and re-integration of convicts, as this helps in changing the negative perception community members have about the facility; and policymakers in the country should make policies aimed at transforming Correctional Centres in the country into robust centres for the rehabilitation, transformation, and re-integration of convicts through adequate funding and furnishing with modern facilities for convicts to always access, among other suggestions