Page 1 of 8
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 11
December 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 607
The Challenges That Ex-Prisoners Face Upon Release
from Prison in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria
Ugwuoke, Kelvin Abuchi ; Otodo Ifeanyichukwu
Department of Sociology/Anthropology University of Uyo, Nigeria
E-mail: ugwukev11@gmail.com ; josprison@gmail.com
Abstract:
This study investigate the challenges that ex- prisoners face upon release from prison in
Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. The study combines
secondary information and information from
extensive fieldwork with interviews to elicit
information on the problems and challenges of
ex-prisoners upon release from imprisonment. A
total of sixty-three (63) ex-prisoners, selected
through snowball sampling method, were
interviewed. Data was analyzed qualitatively
and with the use of simple percentages. Results
show that: (i) ex-prisoners were not effectively
prepared for re-integration into the society when
they were in prison custody. (ii) ex-prisoners
lack the basic necessities of life upon release;
and (iii) employers of labour in Akwa-Ibom
State are not willing to hire ex-prisoners.
Recommendations on how to achieve a proper
reintegration of ex-prisoners in Akwa-Ibom state
are made.
KEY WORDS: Ex-prisoners, release,
reintegration, challenges, imprisonment
INTRODUCTION
According to the Nigerian Prison Capacity
and Inmates Population Statistics, a total of
48,582 persons are imprisoned in Nigeria
(Nigerian Prison Service, 2011). Apart from
lifers and those on death row, every other
inmate will one day become ex-prisoners.
While in prison, inmates are supposedly
being prepared to come back to the society
reformed and duly equipped to contribute to
national development. The ultimate
justification for imprisonment is the proper
reintegration of ex-prisoners into the society
(Ogbozor, Odoemena and Obi, 2006).
According to the United Nation Standard
Minimum Rules for the Treatment of
Offenders, the period of imprisonment
should be used as much as possible to ensure
that upon returning to the society, ex- prisoners should be able to live law-abiding
and self-supporting life (United Nations,
1955).
Prisoners in Nigeria are bedeviled by a
range of excruciating limitations and
challenges. Some of which are social,
economic, psychological and personal.
These problems become obstacle to proper
reintegration after incarceration (Borzycki
and Baldry, 2003; Visher, Winterfield, and
Coggeshall, 2005). According to Fox
(2002), some of these challenges are as a
result of the ex-prisoners’ past experiences,
and others are due to the difficulties of
reintegration into the society. Ex-prisoners
difficulties of reintegration into the society
may include; problems of social ties and
marginalization (Fox, 2002), poor
employment and/or unemployment (Niven
and Steward, 2005), and involvement in
criminal lifestyle that began at an early
(Makkai, 2007). Yet, many prisoners are
Page 2 of 8
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 11
December 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 608
challenged by physical and mental
disabilities and health issues that may be
associated to psychoactive substance abuse
(Ugwuoke, 2005), and the poor state of
prison facilities in Nigeria. Many ex- prisoners have skills deficit, poor
interpersonal skills, low level of formal
education, illiteracy and innumeracy, poor
cognitive or emotional functioning, and/or a
lack of planning and financial management
skills (Murana and LeBel, 2002). Several
practical challenges that are faced by
offenders at the time of their release include
finding employment, finding suitable
accommodation with very limited means,
accessing wide varieties of everyday
necessities, and accessing services and
support for their specific needs.
The transition period from prison to society
is particularly difficult for ex-prisoners and
contributes to the stress that is associated
with being stigmatized and discriminated
against in the community. According to
Borzycki (2005), imprisonment may itself
have had several collateral effects upon
many ex-prisoners. Such collateral effects
include: forfeiting their livelihood, personal
belongings, accommodation, personal
relationship and social network; they may
have experienced psychological
abnormalities or have acquired self- defeating habit and attitude.
In Nigeria, ex-prisoners reintegration is a
particularly critical issue because many of
them have difficulties finding employment
upon release from prison (National
Directorate of Employment, 2006). The
neglect of ex-prisoners by the community is
one aspect of ex-prisoners reintegration that
is problematic and which prevents them
from gaining employment. Many employers,
including government at all levels, do not
employ applicants with criminal conviction
despite the qualifications the ex-prisoners
may have. As a result, many of the ex- prisoners in Nigeria revert to crime
(recidivism).
From the foregoing, the study intends to
know whether ex-prisoners in Akwa-Ibom
state, Nigeria were effectively prepared for
reintegration into the society when they
were in custody. The study also intends to
know some of the basic challenges ex- prisoners face upon release, and also to
make recommendation on the effective
reintegration of ex-prisoners into
communities in Akwa-Ibom state.
METHODOLOGY
The descriptive research method was
employed in this study to examine ex- prisoners challenges upon release from
prison in Akwa-Ibom state, Nigeria. The
network or snowball sampling technique
was used to select 63 ex-prisoners who
participated in this study. The rationale of
employing this method was due to the fact
that it was not easy to access an adequate list
to use as sampling frame. Hence the
research used small sample which yielded
quality data. The researcher contacted the
first ex-prisoner who helped the researcher
to get another two respondents, this process
continued until a total of sixty-three (63) ex- prisoners were covered.
The study employed the use of semi- structured interview schedules to obtain
information from ex-prisoners. Sixty-three
(63) interviews were carried out with ex- prisoners: fifty-nine (59) males and four (4)
females. Interviews were conducted in the
homes and workplaces of ex-prisoners as
applicable. Other source of information for
analysis came from textbooks, newspaper,
periodicals, and internet. Data collected
Page 3 of 8
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 11
December 2015
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 609
were subjected to qualitative analysis and
sample percentages.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Hereunder, the researcher presents the
findings obtained from the study interactions
with respondents in the field.
Table 1: Demographic information of the participant
Variable Factor Frequency Percentage
Gender Male 59 94
Female 4 6
Age Under 23 4 6
24-39 73 84
40 – above 6 10
Religion Christianity 57 90
Islam 2 3
Traditional religion 4 7
Occupation before
imprisonment
Self employed 12 19
Unemployed 8 13
Wage employed 34 54
Students 9 14
Occupation after
imprisonment
Self employed 4 6
Wage employed 5 8
Unemployed 46 73
Student 8 13
Marital status Married 17 27
Single 38 60
Separated 5 8
Widowed 3 5
Educational
attainment
None 8 13
Primary 12 19
Secondary 39 62
Tertiary 4 6
total 63 100
Source: Field Survey
Results show that all sixty three (63)
respondents representing 100% reported
that they were stigmatized by members of
their communities and that denial, mistrust
and question marks put on them by
government officials and ordinary people
have decelerated their momentum to receive
important social assistance and support
available in their communities. One of the
interviewed ex-prisoner, Idoreyin for
example is a 34 years old female who had a
fiancé before being convicted for assault.
She explained how she was rejected by her
fiancé after imprisonment thus:
