<![CDATA[The enactment of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOs) Act, 2019 marked a significant shift in Nigeria's criminal justice system from a punitive approach to a correctional philosophy that emphasizes rehabilitation, reintegration, and restorative justice. One of the major innovations introduced by the Act is the establishment of a Non-Custodial Service responsible for administering community-based correctional measures such as probation, parole, community service, and restorative justice. This study examines the prospects and challenges of community-based corrections and non-custodial measures in Nigeria under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019. The study adopts a qualitative documentary research design using secondary sources, including statutes, journal articles, government publications, and reports from international organizations. The findings reveal that community-based corrections possess enormous potential to reduce prison overcrowding, lower correctional costs, promote offender rehabilitation, encourage victim participation, and improve public safety. However, implementation has been hindered by inadequate funding, weak institutional capacity, limited public awareness, insufficient trained personnel, poor inter-agency collaboration, and inadequate legislative implementation. The study concludes that although the Nigerian Correctional Service Act provides a sound legal framework for non-custodial measures, effective implementation requires stronger institutional commitment, improved funding, enhanced public education, and increased collaboration among criminal justice stakeholders. ]]>
