An Aetiological Study of Criminal Recidivism in Nigeria

Recidivism is generally used for describing repetitious criminal activity, and a recidivist offender is an individual who engages in such activity. Every year, a large number of prisoners are released from prisons in Nigeria. A large chunk of these released persons return to prison before two years. Hence, this study investigates the etiological factors of recidivism in Nigeria. The study concentrates on the causes of recidivism as it relates to the lapses in the Nigerian prison circle.