Assessment of the Administration and Practice of Juvenile Justice System in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

No social group seems to bear the direct brunt of economic crises like children and young persons. Because of their vulnerable
nature, some of them resort to different forms of deviant activities, which bring them in conflict with the law. As a result, there is
a range of laws at the international and local levels which set standard practice as it concerns juvenile offenders. However, the
practice of juvenile justice system in Nigeria tends to be at variance with these laws. This study examines the practice of
juvenile justice system in Nigeria, with the view to assessing the effort of government in the administration and control of
juvenile delinquency in line with established standard in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The study used structured
questionnaires to elicit information from the respondents. Findings reveal that there exist laws to protect the rights and
conditions of juveniles, but these laws do not adequately conform to international standard. Juveniles are subjected to poor
conditions in police and prison cells; they are poorly fed, subjected to verbal and physical abuses, and not separated from adult
prisoners. The study concludes that Nigerian juvenile justice administration needs to be reviewed and properly coordinated to
reflect international rules and standards for the treatment of juvenile offenders.