A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF VICTIMS OF COMMON CRIMES IN PRE- AND POST-COLONIAL TIV SOCIETY

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Date
1999-03
Authors
SAMUEL, Zumve Iornenge
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Abstract
The roles and responsibilities of victims of common crimes in criminal justice administration have been affected by the procedures of the contemporary Nigerian criminal justice system. An attempt has therefore been made to compare the legal position of victims of common crimes (that is their roles and responsibilities) at the various stages of criminal justice administration under the procedures of the contemporary criminal justice system with that of their counterparts (victims) under the procedures of the indigenous Tiv criminal justice system An attempt has also been made to examine the influence of the victims' attributes (like age. education occupational status, and place of residence) 0n their degree of preference for a particular criminal justice system. The purposive sampling method was adopted in selecting informants from the four categories of respondents chosen for the study, namely: the police, court judges and other court personnel, traditional rulers, elders, and the victims of common crimes Informants in the chosen areas (Abwa and Gboko in Benue State) were interviewed through the use of structured interview schedules and indept interview methods. Observation and extracts from books codes and other documentary sources were adopted, as complementary methods in collecting the qualitative data needed. The qualitative data were analyzed by editing the various information obtained from the Codes. Acts, case files and other court records. On the other hand, the quantitative data is analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to find the percentages and frequencies. Findings of the study revealed that, statutorily the criminal and penal codes do not specifically define the legal position of the victims of crime These codes are not explicit on the legal rights of victims during criminal justice administration. The provisions of the codes and Acts are ambiguous on the roles and responsibilities of victims of common crimes at the various stages of the contemporary criminal justice administration. Thus subjecting the victims' legal rights to the wide discretionary' powers of the contemporary criminal justice agencies like the police and court judges. With this development therefore, the victims are overburdened with informal "harsh" roles and responsibilities to perform under the procedures of the contemporary criminal justice system. For instance victims sponsor arrest and investigation by providing means of transport and feeding money to the investigation police officers (IPOs). The findings of the study further revealed that the main focus and concern of the Tiv criminal justice system is the victims of crime. Under the procedures of the Tiv criminal justice system, the victims are not overburdened with these informal roles and harsh responsibilities. The legal rights and interests of the victims are protected under the procedure of the Tiv criminal justice system more than their counterparts in the English legal system. The researcher again uses he Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) in finding the percentages and frequencies to assess the relationship that exists between the socio-demographic attributes of the victims of the common crimes and their preference for criminal justice systems. It is therefore found out that the victim's attributes like age. area of residence, occupational status and level of formal educational attainment influences their preference for criminal justice systems. It is also found out that,the principle of the imposed English justice system does not meet the demands and aspirations of the Nigerians This is because it was designed under a different socioeconomic context (with its peculiar norms and values) and later it was transferred and imposed on the Nigerians in the name of colonialism to serve specific purpose for the colonialists. From the foregoing, it is recommended that, the entire contemporary Nigeria criminal Justice policy should be reviewed to meet the demands, aspirations, and yearnings of the Nigerians This review should be directed towards reconciling parties, direct restitution to the victims by the their convicted offenders, and finally the legal position of the victims should be clearly stated in the codes and acts. In other words, a call for a victim-oriented criminal justice system.
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BEING A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF M.Sc. (SOCIOLOGY) DEGREE, WITH SPECIALIZATION IN CRIMINOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA MARCH, 1999
Keywords
SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS,, VICTIMS OF COMMON CRIMES,, PRE- AND POST-COLONIAL TIV SOCIETY
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