NCoS Blasts Police for Labeling Prison as ‘Training Ground for Criminals’
The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos State Command has been drawn to an online publication where the Commissioner of Police alleges that the Custodial Centres has been turned to a training ground for hardened criminals.
This assertion is rather unfortunate, misleading and unprofessional coming from a senior law enforcement officer who should have correctional literacy and give credence to the excellent and exceptional services being provided by the Nigerian Correctional Service in terms of safe and humane custody, access to justice and giving inmates regimes of treatment towards reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders inspite of many challenges including congestion and overcrowding.
Keeping 9400 inmates out of circulation in five facilities with total capacity for only 4167 is next to a miracle and requires support from all and sundry not blanket condemnation.
For the avoidance of doubt, the NCoS has zero tolerance for all forms of unethical and unprofessional conduct on the part of both Staff and Inmates with appropriate sanctions including suspension, dismissal and prosecution for those found wanting.
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Unarguably, the NCoS is discharging is statutory functions to the extent of changing and transforming the life’s of both serving and former inmates with emperical and verifiable proofs in the areas of;
Formal and Non – formal Educational Programmes ongoing in all our Custodial Centres with over a 1000 inmates undergoing various degrees programmes up to PhD as well as NCE and GCE .
Vocational and entrepreneurial skills have been acquired by over 3000 inmates from our various workshops namely- Tailoring, Carpentry, Shoe making, Art work and Paint Making. Others are Music Production, Bakery, Computer training and Cane work.
The NCos also provides Agricultural training projects like Gardening, Fish farming and Poultry within our facilities.
Thankfully, we have active partnership with National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency(SMEDAN) and many (NGOs) and religious organization complimenting our training programmes.
In area of crime prevention, the NCoS continues to share actionable intelligence with other law enforcement agencies which has led in no small measures to crime prevention and arrest of culprits.
Importantly, NCoS ensures that the security at our Custodial centres deters jail breaks which ultimately has ultimately has improved public safety cum national security.
Regrettably, the misrepresentation in the assertions made by the said official has the tendency to reinforce prejudice and discrimination against former inmates which can lead to unintended consequences of recidivism and fuel crimes.
Belonging to the same family of Administration of Criminal Justice, Crime prevention and management is a shared and complimentary responsibility by various stakeholders
which can be made more effective and efficient by mutual respect, synergy and collaboration amongst the respective law enforcement agencies.
CSC ROTIMI OLADOKUN .
Command Public Relations Officer,
Lagos State Command,
Nigerian Correctional Service.
