Abstract
This study investigates the prevalence, nature, and determinants of human rights violations in correctional facilities in Gombe State, Nigeria, addressing a significant geographical gap in the literature on North-Eastern Nigeria. Adopting a quantitative research design with a crosssectional survey approach, the study sampled 317 inmates from a population of 1,550 across five correctional centres using Yamane's formula, with stratified and simple random sampling techniques ensuring proportional representation. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire measured on a five-point Likert scale, validated through expert review and pilot testing (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.82), and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean scores, standard deviations) and inferential statistics (Chi-square tests at α = 0.05). The findings revealed that overcrowding (mean = 3.9), physical abuse (mean = 3.5), inadequate medical care (mean = 3.2), poor sanitation and nutrition (mean = 3.4), and psychological abuse (mean = 3.1) are prevalent violations. Institutional factors including corruption (mean = 3.8), inadequate staff training (mean = 3.6), insufficient funding (mean = 3.5), and weak monitoring mechanisms (mean = 3.3) were identified as major contributors. Chi-square tests established statistically significant associations between overcrowding and physical abuse (χ² = 18.64, p < 0.001), corruption and denial of medical care (χ² = 15.23, p < 0.001), and inadequate training and psychological abuse (χ² = 12.87, p < 0.001). The Nigerian Correctional Service Act (2019) was found to be poorly enforced (mean = 3.3), with governance weaknesses (mean = 3.4) undermining its effectiveness. The study concludes that systemic institutional failures perpetuate rights violations, and recommends increased funding, enhanced staff training, independent oversight mechanisms, alternative sentencing to reduce overcrowding, and strict enforcement of existing legal provisions. This research extends the geographical coverage of correctional literature to Gombe State, applies Human Dignity Theory as both an explanatory and evaluative framework, and provides robust empirical evidence through inferential analysis to inform policy reforms aimed at protecting inmates' fundamental rights and upholding their inherent dignity.
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