Lifetime exposure to traumatic events among adolescents in contact with the Nigerian juvenile justice systems compared with a comparison group of secondary school students

Abstract

This study provides further evidence that exposure to traumatic events is a fact of life for inmates of juvenile institutions, irrespective of whether they are offenders or victims. The implications for reform of the Nigerian juvenile justice system are discussed.

Correlations between psychopathology and self‐reported quality of life among adolescents in youth correctional facilities in Lagos, Nigeria: A short report

“…Unfortunately, at present, mental health services are hardly available within the youth correctional institutions in Nigeria (Atilola et al, in press), although youth correctional settings are hardly the most auspicious place to provide mental health services (Kates et al, ). As the majority of adolescents remanded or resident in the youth correctional facilities in Nigeria (including the setting of present study) are mostly status offenders or other vulnerable adolescents (Bella et al, ; Atilola et al, ), alternative, community‐based psychosocial and mental health services should be considered for this group of adolescents. This approach is actually being seen as global ‘best practice’ as it has been associated with improved outcomes in terms of rehabilitation and successful community reintegration in some developed countries (Grudzinskas and Clayfield, ; Grisso, ).…”

Service and Policy implication of substance use disorders among adolescents in juvenile correctional facilities in Lagos, Nigeria

“…A research design in which interviews were conducted at the point of entry into the institution, and where self-reports are corroborated with actual drug testing would have eliminated these biases to some extent. Finally, when comparing the results of research among juvenile justice populations around the world with that of Nigeria, researchers should be mindful of the unique and peculiar nature of these populations in Nigeria at present (Atilola et al , 2014). …”

Care and punishment: the need for global perspective on youth victimisation

“…5 While similar patterns are reported for the nonjuvenile-justice, secondary-school sample, the authors of this analysis report the most prevalent traumatic experience among Nigerian inmates to be direct physical victimisation. 2 This highlights an important aspect of violence in developing countries such as Nigeria, and the vulnerability of youths in such societies to exposure to several types of victimisation.…”

“…In this issue of Paediatrics and International Child Health, Atilola and co-authors compare lifetime traumatic exposure of adolescents within Nigeria's juvenile justice system, with the experiences of youths not in contact with this system. 2 Additionally, the authors distinguish between two types of juvenile justice 'inmate' within the Nigerian system: the offenders, youths who have committed an offence; and the victims, youths entered into the system for protection and care purposes.…”

“…In addition to identifying higher levels of traumatic victimisation in youths within the juvenile justice system than in secondary school students, the authors also distinguish between two types of juvenile justice inmate. 2 The first are those who are institutionalised as punishment for a criminal offence, while the second are those who have been placed within the system for care and protection. Thus, the juvenile justice system in Nigeria operates as a mechanism for justice and detention, as well as for social welfare, unlike in developed countries where the two systems are distinct and independent.…”