The Adoption of Restorative Justice Models in CJS: Decongesting Backlogs in Conventional Court System in Nigeria

• In Event: Criminal Justice System Involvement and Policy

Abstract

The court system is an integral component of Nigeria’s criminal justice system; however, it has increasingly struggled to deliver justice that is swift, fair, and transparent. This study aims to evaluate the potential of restorative justice models as a complementary approach to the current court system. Grounded in the theoretical framework of re-integrative shaming theory, the study adopts a qualitative methodology to gather insights from a diverse group of 30 criminal justice professionals, including prison officials, police officers, lawyers, and judges from the Ministry of Justice. This targeted selection process was designed to leverage their expertise for in-depth interviews. Participants also included six esteemed traditional leaders (Magaji and Alangua) from Tanke and Nda local government areas (LGAs) in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis, revealing that a substantial majority of the criminal justice professionals and the traditional leaders expressed strong support for the integration of restorative justice models into the existing court system. These findings underscore the urgent need for the adoption of restorative practices, especially for minor and less serious crimes, to reduce the number of awaiting-trial inmates and alleviate the significant backlog of pending cases plaguing the courts.

Authors

• Ismail Ayatullah Nasirudeen, University of Alberta

• Monsurat Isiaka, University of Ilorin

• Tolha Ayinde Yusuf, University of Ilorin