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