Prison, Stigma, Discrimination and Personality as Predictors of Criminal Recidivism: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Criminal recidivism as a contemporary and global phenomenon has been explained and analysed from different perspectives. The aim of this study is to determine the predictors of criminal recidivism using four main constructs as predictors: prison; stigma; discrimination; and personality among the ex-prisoners in metropolitan Kano-Nigeria. Data was gathered using qualitative method (indepth interviews) from the ex-prisoners and analysed using narrative analysis method. The results from the qualitative analysis revealed that prison, stigma and discrimination were found to have effects on criminal recidivism as the respondents revealed base on their experiences and it is also revealed that such predictors if experienced can give a room for further reoffending whereas personality as predictor was found not have much impact on recidivism among the ex-prisoners in metropolitan Kano-Nigeria. Thus, it was concluded that three (prison, stigma and discrimination) out of the four constructs used can predicts and determine criminal recidivism among the ex-prisoners in metropolitan Kano-Nigeria.