PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE JUDICIARY AND CRIME CONTROL IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This work investigatedpublic perception of the judiciary and crime control in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study adopted the mixed methods research design, using the multistage sampling procedure in the selection of 378 respondents. The questionnaire and In-Depth Interview (IDI) guide served as instruments for data collection. The quantitative data were coded and processed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Frequency tables were used to analyze, describe and present the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were transcribed manually and analyzed using thematic analysis. This study found that there is generally a negative perception of the judiciary in Anambra State. Erosion of public trust was found to be the major consequence of the negative perception of the judiciary in Anambra State. Finally, this study found that to reduce corruption in the judiciary, other arms of government should not unduly interfere in the activities of the judiciary. Based on the findings of the study, the work recommended thatfinancial autonomy for the judiciary must be prioritized to ensure that courts have the necessary resources to function efficiently. The work further recommended that implementing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation and arbitration can alleviate the burden on courts by providing litigants with faster and more cost-effective means of resolving disputes.