Crime Victims’ Perception Of Administration Of Criminal Justice In Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Victims of crime encounter multiple problems which come both from the angle of criminal justice system and the angle of society at large. The study investigates victims’ perception of administration of criminal justice in Dekina Local Government area, Kogi State with emphasis on perceived victim participation in criminal justice administration, perceived rate of reparation victims get from offenders as enforced by the criminal justice administration; perceived determinants of victim satisfaction with the criminal administrative justice, perceived confidence of victims on the effectiveness of criminal justice systems, and perceived likelihood of victims calling police to report crime incidents that was witnessed in Dekina local government. Lifestyle and Routine Activities Theory was the theoretical framework adopted for the study. Using cross sectional survey design the study adopted the quantitative method. Data obtained was analyzed descriptively using frequency distribution tables. Findings amongst others shows that; crime victimization is very high and the safety of the residents is not guaranteed as they perceived the role of Criminal Justice Administration System to be very ineffective. The study recommends amongst others that the criminal justice system should be made in such a way that crime victims participate actively, not passively, in the adjudication of their cases. For this will give them sense of belonging and reduce their level of frustration as well as other social, psychological and health implications.