The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) emphasized the importance of proper inmate classification in transforming correctional facilities into true reformatory institutions.
During a training session for Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) officers in Lagos on Tuesday, UNODC’s Project Coordinator for Prisons and Penal Reforms, Munchaneta Mundopa, stressed that effective inmate classification would streamline administration and address the diverse needs of inmates.
“This classification empowers the Nigerian Correctional Service to tailor rehabilitation plans to the individual needs and risks of inmates. Rehabilitation should not follow a ‘one size fits all’ approach but be customized to ensure inmates can effectively reintegrate into society,” Mundopa stated.
The ongoing training, running from Tuesday through Friday, is the second in a series, following an initial session in Abuja. Sponsored by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. State Department and implemented by UNODC, the program focuses on six prisons in Adamawa, Borno, and Gombe States.
Mundopa noted the existing classification systems’ shortcomings in implementation and alignment with the Nelson Mandela Rules, highlighting the project’s aim to address these gaps.
“Our work in Nigeria spans improving prison conditions, enhancing the capacity of justice actors, and exploring alternatives to imprisonment,” she added.
The training session includes about 30 NCoS officers selected from across the country.
