A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF GENDER CRIMINALITY IN NIGERIA: A COMPARATIVE REVIEW

A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF GENDER CRIMINALITY IN NIGERIA: A COMPARATIVE REVIEW

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Gender is clearly defined as the economic, social, and cultural characteristics, qualities, and opportunities associated with being either male or female. Men and women are fundamentally different in most civilizations, as seen by their activities and business, as well as their access to and control over resources and participation in decision-making. Gender is a weapon for power, as well as a social institution and cultural construct (Aborisade and Balogun, 2016).

The concept of gender is not limited to the male or female species, but extends beyond to properly examine the links between them. This link has been regularly debated by scholars, laypeople, political parties, and others in the process of effecting change in the political, economic, social, and cultural settings at the local, national, and supranational levels, to name a few (Alemika, 2013).

Crime is a particularly intriguing occurrence and a major concern in any community since it is, in every way, the polar opposite of good action. This is essentially correct if we define crime generally as conduct in which individuals get resources from others by force, deception, or stealth. Criminal activities have the opposite effect of good. People who do these crimes want to cause harm to others in order to further their own selfish objectives (Aborisade and Balogun, 2016).

Crime is traditionally defined as activities prohibited by law that are punished by jail. Crimes include murder, robbery, burglary, rape, drunken driving, child maltreatment, and refusal to pay taxes, among others. Criminality, a certain personality profile that favors all manner of crimes, is central to the behavioral concept of crime. The use of force, deceit, or stealth to gain tangible or symbolic resources is considered criminal activity. Furthermore, crime is a strategic behavior style marked by self-centeredness, selfishness, disregard to the pain and needs of others, the belief that "I cannot do it on my own," and a lack of self-control (Aluko & Ajani, 2006). Gender crimes in Nigeria have resulted in Gender studies simply entail having a thorough understanding of both the roles that men and women perform, as well as their respective duties. A comparison of the impact of gender crime in Nigeria involves a comparison of male and female criminals; this will also shed more light on gender disparities in society and how they foster criminality in Nigerian prisons, notably Suleja prisons. Gender inequality does not imply that all women are worse than all males, nor does it imply the opposite. Gender (being male or female) is, nonetheless, a crucial social distinction characterized by the term inequality to some extent. Gender impacts people's thoughts and societal expectations to a considerable extent. Gender equality, on the other hand, refers to women and men having the same status and having equal human rights, as well as the opportunities for acknowledging their full human rights and the ability to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from national, political, economic, social, and cultural development. Gender equality minimizes crime and promotes social harmony, progress, and development (Belknap, 2007). Poverty is rampant among convicts, causing more harm than benefit to the citizens. Previous studies found that women account for more than 70% of the world's absolute poor. Women are frequently victims of adverse circumstances because they want to keep the position imposed on them as housekeepers, baby-making machines, and so on in order to keep their homes and provide for their children, and as such bear a disproportionate burden when attempting to manage household consumption and production during times of recession (Aluko & Ajani, 2006).

Among the many areas in which MPs play critical roles in encouraging, supporting, and preserving women's rights, discrimination against women and girls in the criminal justice system is a major issue that is less frequently addressed than others. These concerns vary from gender-based offenses and grounds for incarceration to the impact of a lack of financial resources to avoid detention and a jail system created by males for male offenders. The disproportionate rise in prejudice places females in circumstances where they are vulnerable to violence. Nowadays, the circumstances under which women commit criminal offenses differ from those under which males commit criminal offenses. As a result, a significant percentage of female criminals are incarcerated as a direct or indirect result of the prejudice and deprivation they frequently face from their husbands, family members, and the community. Crimes perpetrated by women are often tied to poverty and are committed in order to maintain their family and children. When it comes to the profile and history of women in prison, as well as the reasons for their incarceration, they are vastly different from those of males. Women convicts, like males, are mostly from economically and socially disadvantaged areas of society, and are overrepresented among drug peddlers/users, lower-level property crimes, and sex workers. In comparison to male jail populations, women commit primarily petty offenses, theft, and fraud, which are primarily caused by emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse, all of which contribute to women's criminal behavior. Women (and girls) constitute a minority of inmates worldwide, accounting for an estimated 2 to 9% of national jail populations. Nonetheless, the number of imprisoned women has risen dramatically in several nations, and is now far greater than that of men. As a result, the unique needs and features of women and girls, which are at the heart of the criminal justice system, have gone ignored and disregarded. Jail systems are always designed for the predominantly male prison population, which is not intended and is a result of prejudice; from the prison framework to security processes, to healthcare, family contact, work, and training facilities (Belknap, 2007). As a result, only a few jails cater to the special requirements of female inmates, and most of the time, they do not prepare them for release with gender-appropriate rehabilitation. The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders were adopted in December 2010 in order to put things in place, particularly the lack of standards, but the international community is still lacking in awareness and commitment to implementation to this day. Gender norms have left a scar on women in jail, and while their husbands and partners naturally support their husbands in prison and upon release, women are typically silenced by their spouse and, in some cases, the entire family if they are incarcerated. At the same time, women are frequently the sole caregivers for small children, which has resulted in a special impact of even brief spells of incarceration on children and the larger family (Aborisade and Balogun, 2016).

 1.2.    STATEMENT OF THE  PROBLEM

Criminality in Nigeria has been a long-standing issue that has hampered the country's economic, political, and social progress (Aborisade and Balogun, 2016). Because of the growth in the wave of crime and other unlawful behaviors, the issue of criminality has taken an unexpectedly upward spike in Nigeria (Belknap, 2007). This high degree of criminal inclinations in Nigeria has harmed the country's worldwide image, prohibiting or making it impossible for us to enjoy the goodwill of other developed countries across the world. Criminality has resulted in severe security worries, since the lives and assets of innocent Nigerians can no longer be safeguarded, as in other nations throughout the world. This has had a significant impact on limiting investment into the country, resulting in poor economic growth and misery (Alemika, 2013).

  1.3.    AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 The major aim of the study is to examine the impact of gender criminality in Nigeria. Other specific objectives of the study are as follows;

1. To determine if women receive preferential treatment in sentencing over men and to explain this disparity if it exists.
2. To examine if crime in Nigeria is gender related
3. To determine the negative impact of criminality in Nigeria.
4. To compare the gender differences in the Nigerian prisons as regards to issues of criminality in Nigeria.
5. To recommend ways of ensuring the reduction of total eradication of criminality in Nigeria.

1.4.    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the impact of criminality in Nigeria?
2. Do women receive preferential treatment in sentencing over men?
3. Is crime in Nigeria is gender related?
4. What is the negative impact of criminality in Nigeria?
5. Is there a difference in gender as regards crime in Nigeria?
6. What are the ways of ensuring the reduction of total eradication of criminality in Nigeria?

1.5.    RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

 H01: There is no significant difference in gender in terms of criminality in Nigeria.

 H11: There is a significant difference in gender in terms of criminality in Nigeria.

 H02: There is no significant impact of gender criminality in Nigeria.

 H12: There is a significant impact of gender criminality in Nigeria.

  1.6.    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

 The study would be of immense importance to government at all levels, the Nigerian prison service and relevant stakeholders as it would reveal the impact of gender criminality on Nigeria. The study would also benefit students, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing further research on the subject matter.

  1.7.    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

 The study is restricted to the impact of gender criminality in Nigeria using a case study of Suleja prisons in Minna, Niger state.

1.8  LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

 Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview)

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

 1.9    DEFINITION OF TERMS

GENDER: the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones).

CRIMINAL:  an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law

PRISON: a building to which people are legally committed as a punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial.

SOCIAL VICES: is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, or degrading in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character trait, a defect, an infirmity, or a bad or unhealthy habit (such as an addiction to smoking).

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