Table 2 Experience with the criminal justice system
Variables | Frequency | Percent (%) |
|---|---|---|
Days in police custody | ||
 < 5 | 26 | 6.8 |
 5–20 | 182 | 47.8 |
 > 20 | 173 | 45.4 |
Days in prison | ||
 ≤ 30 | 23 | 6.0 |
 31–150 | 151 | 39.6 |
 > 150 | 207 | 54.3 |
Post held in the cell | ||
 Yes | 71 | 18.6 |
 No | 310 | 81.4 |
Charge | ||
 Armed robbery | 171 | 44.9 |
 Homicide | 57 | 15.0 |
 Theft | 31 | 8.1 |
 Criminal conspiracy | 28 | 7.3 |
 Kidnapping and terrorism | 22 | 5.8 |
 Others | 72 | 18.8 |
Status | ||
 Awaiting trial | 377 | 99.0 |
 Convicted | 4 | 1.0 |
Plea | ||
 Not guilty | 345 | 91.5 |
 Guilty | 32 | 8.4 |
Appeared in court | ||
 Yes | 339 | 89.9 |
 No | 38 | 10.1 |
Number of times in court | ||
 1–5 | 188 | 54.7 |
 6–20 | 106 | 30.8 |
 > 20 | 50 | 14.5 |
Represented by a lawyer | ||
 Yes | 255 | 67.6 |
 No | 122 | 32.4 |
Type of lawyer | ||
 Paid counsel | 209 | 82.0 |
 JDPC | 10 | 3.9 |
 Legal aid | 36 | 14.1 |
Ever been arrested before | ||
 Yes | 63 | 16.9 |
 No | 309 | 83.1 |
Number of times (n = 63) | ||
 1 | 33 | 52.4 |
 > 1 | 30 | 47.6 |
Charges during previous arrests (n = 63) | ||
 Cultism | 10 | 15.9 |
 Theft | 9 | 14.3 |
 Fighting | 11 | 17.5 |
 Suspect in a crime | 16 | 25.3 |
 Others | 17 | 27.0 |
Reason for reoffending (n = 63) | ||
 No reason given | 41 | 65.1 |
 No job | 7 | 11.1 |
 Lack of capital to start a business | 6 | 9.5 |
 Forced back by a gang | 4 | 6.3 |
 No training for any other occupation | 3 | 4.8 |
 Crime more profitable | 2 | 3.2 |