THE JUVENILE OFFENDER AND THE NIGERIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES

Abstract

Prevention of offenses by juveniles is one part of the wider crime reduction strategy of any nation. This paper examined the administration of criminal justice system in Nigeria and attempted an inquiry into the challenges of administration of juvenile justice. Crimes are part of every society in its every day interactions. These crimes in times past were committed by persons that have attained the age of adulthood, but in the recent times, there had been an alarming rise in the number of juvenile delinquencies across the country. This juvenile may have to come face to face with the law and are unfortunately often treated like adults and mixed with adults in prisons. This paper looked into the legal frameworks of Juvenile justice system in Nigeria. The challenges of Juvenile justice administration in Nigeria identified include: Lack of juvenile court judges, Funding, Attitudinal and cultural changes, improper justice system. The paper recommended that there is an urgent necessity to employ more social workers in every state so as to rehabilitate individual juveniles, the Child’s Rights Act (CRA,) needs to be speedily implemented by Federal and State governments, juvenile institutions to substitute home for juveniles, the acceptance of juveniles into society without discrimination and both the federal and state government should financially develop the juvenile justice system in Nigeria so as to rehabilitate and restore juvenile delinquents.