Within the theoretical ambit of the Differential Association Theory propounded by Edwin Sutherland, this study provides empirical insight into the surge in the incidence of recidivism due to certain factors within the correctional facilities that increase chances ofnegative criminal association.The study therefore examined the link between criminal association and recidivism using selected prisons in Rivers State, Nigeria. To achieve this aim, data were sourced from the fieldusing questionnaire and Key Persons Interviews (KPIs).To analyze the data, disruptive and inferential statistics along with the thematic method were used.The result shows that criminal association occasioned by overcrowding and lack of proper separation of the different categories of inmates within the selected correctional facilitiesis responsiblefor recidivism. However, there is need to investigateother causes as criminal association alone may not be significant enough to birth reoffending. Based on the findings, the study recommends that there should beadequateseparationof inmates and provision of more facilitiesto preclude indiscriminate confinement of inmates that may lead to recidivism.

Association, Criminal, Recidivism

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