A Comparative Analysis of Existing Conditions of Facilities in the Port-Harcourt Maximum Prison and the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules

Abstract

This research compared the existing conditions of facilities in the Port Harcourt Maximum Prison Facility, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The objective included assessing the condition of existing facilities in the Port Harcourt Maximum Prison Facility and, comparing the existing facilities using the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules (U.N SMRs).The study adopted the passive observational research survey design. The data for this study was drawn from primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected by administering questionnaires to a sample size of 175, drawn from the Prison staff, while the inmates were carefully observed during the researcher's visits to the prison facility, and also interview with notable key players in the prison facility. Data analysis was based on responses from 158 questionnaires retrieved, representing 90.3% response rate, and using simple descriptive analytical tools. The study revealed that the existing conditions of the prison is very poor as compared to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Prisoners Treatment, which was supported by the observations of the inmates. A key recommendation of this research is that a multi stakeholders' role is required in the provision and improvement of facilities in prison to meet the International Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the establishment of a Facility Management department in the Port Harcourt Maximum Prison, headed by a Professional Facility Manager, in order to achieve the aim of establishing the Prison facility.