ABSTRACT
The Nigerian criminal justice system faces major challenges due to congested correctional centres, particularly with suspects awaiting trial, and the deplorable conditions of these centres. To address this, non-custodial penal measures have been introduced as alternatives to imprisonment under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of various States, and the Nigerian Correctional Services Act (NCSA) 2019. However, implementation of these measures remains weak, requiring strategies to strengthen enforcement. Problems such as poor categorisation and evaluation of non-custodial measures, weak sentencing guidelines, ineffective monitoring, and unsustainability within the federal criminal justice system contribute to persistent prison congestion, adversely affecting justice delivery. This chapter adopts a doctrinal approach to analyse statutory provisions, case law, and secondary data, highlighting issues including poor implementation, ineffective monitoring, and the unsustainability of non-custodial measures in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
