This paper explores the intersection of Nigerian criminology and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the opportunities and future directions for aligning criminological research, education and practice with global development priorities. While Nigeria faces complex challenges such as poverty, inequality, insecurity, gender-based violence, environmental degradation and ineffective justice institutions, criminologists have a vital role in finding sustainable solutions. This paper explores how specific SDGs, notably Goals 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13 and 16, provide significant opportunities for criminological involvement, including crime prevention, youth empowerment, community safety and tackling cybercrime. It suggests that incorporating SDGs into criminology curricula, enhancing data collection, encouraging field research, shaping policy reforms and accessing global funding can greatly improve the impact and relevance of the discipline. By taking an interdisciplinary, culturally aware and community-focused approach, Nigerian criminologists can advocate for evidence-based reforms that confront both the immediate and underlying factors of crime and insecurity. The paper concludes that aligning Nigerian criminology with the SDGs offers a timely chance to bolster academic and policy relevance while also serving as a strategic avenue for promoting peace, justice and inclusive development in Nigeria.

This article critically examines the relationship between self-esteem and criminal social identity in violent offenders, offering a novel rehabilitative framework within the Indian penal system. Despite global recognition of identity reformation as integral to offender rehabilitation, India has yet to integrate these psychological dimensions into correctional strategies. This research, conducted at Sabarmati Central Prison, Ahmedabad, applies structured therapeutic interventions to assess shifts in self-esteem and criminal social identity among 70 violent offenders, measured pre- and post-intervention. Criminal social identity reflects the internalization of criminality as a defining role, while self-esteem denotes an individual’s perceived legitimacy within social norms. The findings underscore the formative influence of environmental, familial and sociocultural factors, revealing a significant interplay between self-concept and criminal behaviour. Statistically significant improvements post-intervention demonstrate the potential for identity reconstruction as a rehabilitative tool. This analysis challenges punitive correctional models, advocating for evidence-based, human-centred interventions that prioritize psychological rehabilitation. By offering a culturally contextualized approach, this article contributes to contemporary debates on criminal justice reform, providing a blueprint for integrating psychological insights into correctional policy in India and beyond.

With great fanfare, India officially launched its new criminal laws – the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam – on 1 July 2024. These laws were heralded as a significant reform aimed at modernizing the country’s justice system and enhancing protections for victims of violence. The legislation sparked considerable optimism among various stakeholders by promising swift justice and fostering a more responsive police force. However, at six months after their implementation, a critical assessment was warranted. How effective have these laws proven to be in practice? Are the judiciary and police adapting to these changes, or are we merely witnessing another instance of legislative overreach that fails to translate into real-world improvements? This analysis urges us to examine the real impact of these statutes to assess whether they offer a genuine solution to the longstanding challenges within the Indian criminal justice system or if they are simply another bureaucratic illusion. As we examine the initial outcomes and responses from law enforcement and the judiciary, it is essential to evaluate the efficacy of the new provisions in the context of ongoing systemic challenges and societal attitudes toward justice. This evaluation will determine whether these legislative measures have genuinely ushered in a new era of accountability and victim support, or if they have fallen victim to the inertia of existing institutional practices. In this paper we examine the changes and effectiveness brought by these laws as we unchain ourselves from colonial laws.

Public health emergencies make an impact on policing in many ways, create unique challenges for police departments and affect the quality of life of police officers. These impacts include response, enforcement, preparedness, and inter- and intra-organizational dynamics. While there is much research on policing the pandemic in the Global North, similar scholarship emanating from the Caribbean is limited. With this lacuna in mind, the views of 32 members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service were collected via semi-structured interviews at the back end of the COVID-19 pandemic and used to answer four research questions. The results indicate a host of impacts on policing, police leadership and police officer quality of life as a result of the COVID-19-facilitated pandemic. The current study adds to the limited scholarship on policing during the pandemic and offers guidance on policing practice to ensure police officer safety and preparation for future health pandemics.

The right to silence and the presumption of innocence are fundamental to fair criminal proceedings. Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) permits courts in India to question the accused, allowing them to explain incriminating evidence. However, judicial interpretations of this provision have raised concerns about undermining these essential rights. This paper critically examines the evolving interpretations of Section 313 of the CrPC and their implications for the right to silence and the presumption of innocence. It argues that current judicial practices have turned the right to remain silent into a duty to provide explanations, contradicting natural justice principles. This study addresses three key questions: (1) How has the interpretation of Section 313 of the CrPC evolved in Indian jurisprudence, and what impact does this have on the accused’s right to remain silent? (2) In what ways does the current application of Section 313 of the CrPC conflict with Article 20(3) of the Constitution, which protects against self-incrimination? (3) What are the potential consequences of misapplying Section 313 on the presumption of innocence, and how can these issues be remedied through judicial or legislative reforms? The paper concludes with recommendations to preserve the integrity of the criminal justice system and ensure robust protection of the right to silence and the presumption of innocence.

In Ghana, the institution of chieftaincy, a traditional political governance system, is saddled with a number of conflicts which have far-reaching implications for food security in affected communities. This study examined how the infamous Bimbilla chieftaincy conflicts in the Northern Region of Ghana undermined the food security situation in the context of hunger, famine and sudden rise in food prices. A total of 383 respondents were randomly and purposely selected in a convergent mixed-methods study design. Questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions were the main primary data collection methods. The study revealed that the chieftaincy conflicts significantly impacted hunger (β = –0.152, t = –2.807, p = 0.005) and famine (β = 0.188, t = 3.443, p = 0.001). A sudden increase in food prices (β = 0.006, t = 0.113, p = 0.910) stood as the only food security factor which was not affected substantially by the chieftaincy conflicts.

The study aims to determine the theoretical and legal basis for the tactics of interrogation of minors in Kazakhstan, to identify promising areas for improving the legal regulation of interrogation of this category of participants in criminal proceedings in the Republic of Kazakhstan. A comprehensive methodology was employed to analyse the regulatory framework, incorporating systematic, formal legal, and formal logical methods. The study addressed the state of regulatory and legal support for the interrogation of juvenile offenders in Kazakhstan. The study emphasized the need to enshrine the possibility of restricting the participation of a legal representative in criminal proceedings or replacing it completely with another legal representative in cases where participation may harm a minor or adversely affect the course of criminal proceedings. The study formulated recommendations that can be used to improve the legal regulation of interrogation of minors in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Globally, considerable attention is being given to the multifaceted challenges that policing faces as part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) refers to promoting peace, security, human rights, stability and effective governance based on the rule of law. However, policing Nigeria to meet this goal has been fraught with several challenges, which range from erosion of public trust to growing crime rate, police brutality and other misconduct. This article reviewed empirical studies on how legitimacy issues impacted police enforcement of COVID-19 protocols and lockdown rules in Nigeria. Leaning on legitimacy and procedural justice theories, a systematic and iterative approach was adopted to identify and synthesize relevant literature on pandemic policing in Nigeria. We searched 12 databases (Scopus, PsycINFO, AJOL, Sage Journals Online, Web of Science, Academic Search Ultimate, PAIS Index, ProQuest Sociology, HeinOnline, Criminal Justice Abstracts, JSTOR, Sociological Abstracts) for empirical studies on pandemic policing in Nigeria published between 2020 and 2024. A total of 11 studies were included in the review. Four main themes were identified: the Nigerian police pre-COVID legitimacy issues; police enforcement of lockdown rules; key challenges; and lessons for post-pandemic policing. The review highlights the pre-COVID legitimacy issues of the Nigerian police that made an impact on public trust and cooperation during the lockdown period and recommends strategies to assist the Nigerian police in building momentum for a systemic and stylistic change of policing from force-based to consent-based.

This theoretical and empirical study describes and explains the patterns of changes in domestic illicit trade and related transnational illicit flows of goods, services and money during the extreme social crises based on the case of the war in Ukraine. Depending on the legal status of the civil circulation of items, illicit trade is categorized into two groups: illicit (criminal) trade outside the economic sphere; and illicit (illegal) trade within the economic sphere. Typical destructive practices and their peculiarities during the war are considered in each group of illicit trade with the use of quantitative and qualitative methods. In terms of the dichotomy “war as a cause and consequence of crime”, this article addresses significant transformations in established criminal activities outside the official economy, such as drug trafficking and human trafficking, while also highlighting newly emerging crimes, specifically the illegal movement of conscripts across national borders. Furthermore, the article explores illegal trade within the economy, focusing on the trade in excisable goods and the new growing issue of abuse of humanitarian aid. The authors discuss the main deficiencies in adequate counteraction related to both war circumstances and systematic problems of state institutions, in particular, the criminal justice system.

A potent investigative instrument in the fight against highly sophisticated criminal schemes camouflaged by layers of secrecy is the sting operation. However, its application provokes crucial questions of legality and admissibility. Additionally, lack of legal provisions governing sting operations in India has resulted in conflicting judicial stances, calling for clarity on this issue. Hence, this paper examines the intricate legal and ethical challenges surrounding sting operations, which, on one hand, aid in uncovering serious offences and foster public interest but, on the other hand, threaten to infringe privacy rights and fairness of trials. The paper analyses international practices in Canada and the United States of America, alongside judicial precedents and scholarly opinions in India, and recommends statutory inclusion of sting operations in the Indian legal system. The paper proposes stringent judicial control, elaborate ethical guidelines to avoid staging crimes, and regulations on media reporting to maintain the delicate balance of public interest versus personal rights. The paper concludes with a model draft for legislative reform that seeks to strengthen the idea of justice without weakening fundamental rights.

The integration of big data into criminal investigations is advancing significantly. Big data fundamentally involves the utilization of artificial intelligence technologies to analyse vast quantities of electronic information. The inherent features of big data contribute to minimizing subjectivity in investigative procedures and facilitate the evolution of criminal investigation methodologies and incident identification. However, challenges persist regarding the protection of rights and potential biases in data collection, as well as issues of subjectivity and the “black box effect” in data processing, alongside security concerns related to data storage. To address these challenges, it is essential to implement strategies such as enhancing the quality of big data, restricting the transparency of data processing methods and establishing a tiered protection framework for personal information.

The article pioneers the examination of “hustle kingdoms”: illegal cybercrime training academies in West Africa. It explores these entities as innovative and adaptive institutions that emerge in response to systemic socio-economic strain. This article provides a unique analysis of hustle kingdoms by situating their emergence within the region’s socio-economic, cultural and technological trajectories. It does so by assessing the contemporary manifestation of these cybercrime academies with history in mind to understand the past that created them. It highlights how these cybercrime training academies have evolved from earlier forms, thereby showcasing a unique form of deviant innovation. It contributes to existing literature by addressing the critical gap in the scholarly discourse surrounding these entities and their historical evolution. Drawing on Merton’s strain theory, this historical scholarly endeavour examines how systemic barriers to education and employment have fostered deviant innovation, transforming hustle kingdoms from early fraud enterprises into sophisticated, global cybercrime networks. The analysis highlights the structural disparities that sustain their operations by juxtaposing these academies with conventional educational frameworks. The findings offer novel insights into the intersection of inequality, cultural narratives and technological adaptation, positioning hustle kingdoms as both products and catalysts of systemic strain.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into sentencing within the criminal justice system. This research examines the impact of AI on sentencing, addressing the challenges and opportunities for fairness and justice. The main problem explored is AI’s potential to perpetuate biases, undermining fair-trial principles. This study intends to assess AI’s influence on sentencing, identify legal and ethical challenges, and propose a framework for equitable AI use in judicial decisions. Key research questions include: (1) How does AI influence sentencing decisions? (2) What concerns arise from AI in sentencing? (3) What safeguards can mitigate those concerns and prejudices? Utilizing qualitative methodology, including doctrinal analysis and comparative studies, the research reveals AI’s potential to enhance sentencing efficiency but also to risk reinforcing biases. The study recommends robust regulatory frameworks, transparency in AI algorithms, and judicial oversight to ensure AI supports justice rather than impedes it, advocating for a balanced integration that prioritizes human rights and fairness.

South Africa has seen a surge in child offending. Child offenders commit violent crimes such as armed robbery, housebreaking, rape and murder. Conversely, not all child offenders commit violent crimes. Many child offenders are detained for minor charges such as shoplifting, theft and possession of illegal substances. Most of these children face numerous levels of adversity, including poverty, dysfunctional households and limited parental involvement. Responses to child criminal behaviour accentuate rehabilitation through measures such as diversion. Narrative accounts of children in conflict with the law who underwent mentorship programmes, as a diversion initiative, are scarce and underrepresented. Through a qualitative inquiry, 13 children who completed the National Youth Development Outreach (NYDO) Centre’s Mentoring Diversion Programme were interviewed and data were analysed thematically. Findings provided insight into the participants’ background and context, the mentor–mentee relationship, responsibility, effectiveness of the programme, and aftercare support. This paper contributes to scientific research and is conducive to curtailing child offending.