NCJ Number
101061
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1985) Pages: 83-95
Date Published
1985
Length
13 pages
Annotation
There is a great need to study female criminality in African Societies. Therefore, this paper investigates the general characteristics of Nigerian female offenders incarcerated in a major woman's prison in Nigeria.
Abstract
In a preliminary study of female offenders in Nigeria, Oloruntimehin (1982) suggests that female criminality in Nigeria may be correlated with socioeconomic and family background variables. Consequently, the major task of this study is to find out the relationship between socioeconomic and family bond measures and female criminality in Nigeria. The offenses the inmates committed form the dependent variables. The data show that most of the inmates had a loose attachment to their families prior to the time they committed the offense that led to their imprisonment. Most of the offenders are lower-class persons. There are inverse correlations between socioeconomic measures and involvement in property crimes (p=.01) and crimes without victims (p=.001). Also, there is no significant relationship between socioeconomic measures and crimes against persons. Family bond measures are significantly correlated with involvement in property crimes (p=.001), crimes without victims (p=.001), and personal crimes (p=.01). But there is no significant relationship between family bond measures and involvement in smuggling contrabands. The inmates' criminality can be explained in terms of the breakdown of kinship ties and poor economic conditions in Nigeria. (Publisher abstract)