The Nigerian Correctional Service says the rehabilitation of convicted sexual offenders must involve appropriate professional assessment, accountability and consideration for public safety and victims’ welfare.

The NCoS also said that completing a prison sentence should neither be regarded as conclusive proof of rehabilitation nor automatically interpreted as evidence that rehabilitation had failed.

Its spokeswoman, Jane Osuji, said this in response to a question on the reintegration of sexual offenders and the effectiveness of correctional facilities.

Ms Osuji explained that sexual offences could have profound and lasting effects on victims and their families, requiring rehabilitation to be approached with professional care and due consideration for public safety.

She said the service’s broader rehabilitation framework included counselling, psycho-social support, behavioural guidance, education and vocational training to promote responsible conduct and prepare inmates for lawful reintegration.

Ms Osuji  said claims about dedicated sexual-offender treatment programmes or specific assessment protocols should however be based on verified information about the programmes actually available and implemented.

According to her, where specialised psychological or behavioural assessments are required, qualified professionals should conduct them and base their conclusions on appropriate evidence. 

Ms Osuji restated that behavioural change should not be assessed solely through an inmate’s participation in a programme or a general declaration of remorse. She added that relevant considerations should include the individual’s understanding of the harm caused, identified behavioural risk factors, engagement with appropriate interventions and the outcomes of professional assessments.

On preventing re-offending, Osuji said post-release monitoring and support arrangements depended on applicable laws, court orders and the responsibilities assigned to relevant institutions. She said the NCoS could not assume powers of post-release supervision or surveillance that law had not conferred on it.

She called for coordination among correctional authorities, criminal justice institutions, social welfare agencies and professional service providers to ensure appropriate treatment, supervision and reintegration arrangements.

Ms Osuji noted that reliable post-release information and interventions suited to individual circumstances were necessary to assess rehabilitation outcomes and identify areas requiring further attention.

On public reactions to released offenders, she said an individual’s legal right to resume lawful life after completing a sentence should be distinguished from the public’s decision to celebrate or endorse that individual. She also said that reintegration should not be confused with endorsement of an offence, adding that the right to reintegration does not require society to minimise the seriousness of wrongdoing.

(NAN)