Perceptions of Counselling Psychologists and Legal Practitioners on the Importance of Involvement of Psychologists in Criminal Trials to Reduce Recidivism in Nigeria

The persistent high rates of recidivism in Nigeria underscore the inadequacy of current criminal trial procedures. This study investigates the perceptions of counselling psychologists and legal practitioners in Oyo State, Nigeria, regarding the integration of counselling psychology into criminal trial processes as a strategy to mitigate recidivism. Employing a quantitative survey design, the research sampled 185 counselling psychologists and 125 legal practitioners using stratified random sampling. Data were gathered via the “Counselling Psychologists’ Involvement in Criminal Trials as Deterrents of Recidivism Scale” and analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics, including ANOVA and regression analyses. Results indicate that perceptions among both professional groups vary significantly with years of practice. Specifically, counselling psychologists with longer tenure demonstrated stronger support for involvement in trials (F = 5.322, p = .002), and experienced legal practitioners likewise endorsed psychological participation more robustly (F = 109.308, p < .001). However, no significant composite difference emerged between the two professions (F = .807, p = .370), suggesting overall consensus on the value of interdisciplinary collaboration. These findings corroborate theoretical frameworks such as therapeutic jurisprudence and the Good Lives Model, which advocate for rehabilitative, rather than purely punitive, justice processes.