Ekiti State Children Correctional Centre: Implications for Inmates

ABSTRACT: This study was an investigation on Ekiti State Children Correctional Centre and its implications on the lives of the Inmates. The study was carried out during an internship by the author at the Centre. The sample size of 15 inmates, 13 staff of the Centre and 2 police officers who agreed to participate was used for the study. In-depth study and key informant interview (KII)were utilised to collect data. SWOT analysis was also used to access the Centre. The findings of the research revealed that the Centre was effective in its handling of inmates. The inmates at the Centre were brought from Courts,by their family members and good Samaritans who found some of them roaming the streets in the State. The study also revealed that the Centre effectively discharged its main functions of providing shelter, feeding and security for the under-aged inmates until their trial and the found children until they were claimed by their relatives. However, the study discovered that, the Centre had some challenges including inadequate funding, inappropriate infrastructure, its porosity and being wedged between residential buildings. The study concluded that the Centre had positive implications and impact on the inmates because they left the Centre as changed persons few years after their registration and stay at the Centre. It was recommended that the Centre should be provided with more adequate funding, infrastructure, technology and should be relocated to a permanent site to enhance higher impact of the Centre.
KEY WORDS: Children, Correctional, Centre, positive, implications, inmates, courts