Reformation of Juvenile Offenders in Borstal Correctional Centre in Southern Kaduna Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examine the reformation of juvenile offenders in a borstal training institution (BTI) in Southern Kaduna Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Cases in BTI were reviewed. The methods deployed to combat delinquency, and the effectiveness of the methods deployed in reforming inmates. The Social Control and Reformative theories were adopted to explain the reformation of juvenile offenders in BTI. A survey design was adopted for the paper where two hundred and fify-five respondents were drawn from a population of four hundred and sixty-one using a multistage sampling technique. One hundred and fifty-five Questionnaires were administered to inmates and 10 IDIs were also conducted to augment the quantitative data. The study found that pressure from friends and lack of parental guidance is the major factors accounting for delinquent behavior. Also, results showed that methods deployed to combat juvenile delinquent case in the BTI include, carpentry and tailoring. The reformative programmes they are majorly subjected to are educational and vocational skills. Further findings revealed that the methods deployed in reforming inmates in BTI are fairly effective. The study concludes that there is a relationship between the reformation method and the reduction in cases of juvenile delinquency. Therefore, it is recommended that parents and guardians should create a healthy and friendly relationship between their wards as well as know the friends they keep; renovate dilapidated facilities and provision modern training facilities by the government as well as introduction and teaching of practical psychological programmes to effectively reform delinquents in BTI such as that of Kaduna State, Nigeria would be useful.