UNDERSTANDING THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CRIMINAL MINDS AND BEHAVIOURS

The negligence of the Criminal Justice System in Nigeria, have decayed the main players in the criminal justice system to be able to determine the guilt or innocence of an individual and how to rehabilitate those who are guilty. This study takes its reader back to the origins of criminal behaviors, exploring variables and factors that lead to crime primarily in Nigeria. This study employs a narrative and descriptive technique to lay bare the mind of a criminal. Sourcing data from primary sources; questionnaires were used to collect this data, analyzing them through a quantitative and qualitative lens, using the experiences of respondents to elucidate the current
happenings in Nigeria and its perception of crime. This study has found that crime is rarely viewed as a wrong that can be corrected, hence the state of the system designed to address the issue, Governmental negligence and non-chalance on major societal issues being the major root cause along with other factors. While not focusing on this aspect: the study lightly touches on this and proposes methods of correction, along with proposing further areas of research as understanding
the causes and reasons behind them is only the first step. The results findings showed the scales of criminal behaviours in the country, and variables like unemployment, peer pressure, poverty, lack of mental health care and other factors, the differences between crimes of passion and premeditated crime.