Authors : Donatus Ntemgw Mbunya

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 6 - June

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/aemhf3kv

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/3uhhfbaw

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jun1973

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Inmate conflicts remain a persistent challenge within correctional institutions despite the implementation of various mediation and conflict-resolution measures. In Cameroon, existing prison conflict-management approaches have largely emphasised institutional security and disciplinary control, with limited empirical attention given to the implementation of mediation measures within correctional settings. This study examined the implementation of mediation measures in managing inmate conflicts in Buea Central Prison and Douala New Bell Central Prison, Cameroon. An explanatory mixed-methods research design was adopted, integrating quantitative and qualitative data to provide a comprehensive assessment of mediation practices. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to prison staff and inmates, while qualitative data were generated through semi-structured interviews with prison administrators, correctional officers, inmates, and selected stakeholders. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance, whereas qualitative data were analysed thematically and integrated with the quantitative findings. The findings indicate that prison authorities implement several mediation measures, including dialogue before punishment, complaint-handling procedures, counselling, educational and sensitisation programmes, and collaboration with chaplains and external organisations. However, their implementation remains inconsistent because of overcrowding, staff shortages, limited mediation training, inadequate grievance management, fear of intimidation among inmates, and operational pressures that prioritise immediate institutional control over long-term reconciliation. Although dialogue and mediation contribute to resolving minor disputes, participants reported that serious conflicts are frequently managed through punitive responses, limiting opportunities for sustainable peacebuilding. The statistical analysis further revealed significant differences in respondents' perceptions regarding the implementation of mediation measures, confirming inconsistencies in institutional practice. The study concludes that mediation has become an important component of prison conflict management within the two correctional institutions but remains constrained by structural and institutional challenges that reduce its overall effectiveness. Strengthening mediation capacity, improving grievance procedures, expanding preventive peacebuilding programmes, and enhancing institutional support for mediation are essential for promoting sustainable conflict management within Cameroon's correctional institutions.

Keywords : Peacebuilding, Correctional Institutions, Mediation, Inmate Conflict, Prison Rehabilitation, Restorative Justice.

References :

1. J. M. Ruiz, An introduction to prison management. Madrid: Directorate General of Penitentiary Institutions, 2006.
2. M. S. Fleisher and S. H. Decker, An overview of the challenge of prison gangs. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, 2001.
3. A. Liebling and H. Arnold, Prisons and their moral performance: A study of values, quality, and prison life. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
4. C. Haney, Reforming punishment: Psychological limits to the pains of imprisonment. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2006.
5. V. M. Ríos, Life on the outside: The prison system and social reintegration. New York, NY: Routledge, 2007.
6. E. Kimmett, "Prison conflict and conflict resolution: A review of theory and practice," Journal of Correctional Administration, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 115–130, 2018.
7. J. P. Lederach, Building peace: Sustainable reconciliation in divided societies. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press, 1997.
8. S. Byrne, "Mediation and conflict resolution in correctional institutions," Conflict Resolution Quarterly, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 299–321, 2007.
9. K. Edgar and T. Newell, Conflict resolution in prisons: A manual for prison staff. Winchester, UK: Waterside Press, 2006.
10. M. Cañada-Pancorbo, "Prison mediation as an alternative conflict resolution mechanism," European Journal of Probation, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 112–126, 2015.
11. K. Peart, J. Wallace, M. Brown, L. Smith, D. Johnson, and R. Thomas, "Mediation practices in correctional institutions: Contemporary perspectives on prison conflict management," International Journal of Prisoner Health, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 35–52, 2024.
12. R. Walmsley, World prison population list, 11th ed. London, UK: Institute for Criminal Policy Research, 2016.
13. A. E. Bottoms, "Interpersonal violence and social order in prisons," Crime and Justice, vol. 26, pp. 205–281, 1999.
14. P. Nfor, "Challenges of prison administration in Cameroon," African Journal of Criminal Justice Studies, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 41–58, 2020.
15. T. Enoh, "Correctional reforms and prison management in Cameroon," Cameroon Journal of Law and Society, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 66–84, 2019.