Public Health or Criminal Justice? An Examination of Two Models to CrimePrevention in Nigeria

Abstract

Criminal justice and public health are both derivatives of
public law aimed at prevention of societal problem. However,
there exist confrontations and challenges in the approaches of
the two disciplines. With the exponential increase in spate of
crime, there is a need for a paradigm shift in the way
prevention is implemented. The aim of this study is to map the
gaps between the perspective of public health and criminal
justice system. To achieve this aim, this study considers the
public health approach and criminal justice approach to
tobacco use and illicit drugs and a comparative of the models
of prevention adopted in these two vices.