Abstract
The crux of this research is focused at positing an extensive appraisal on the theory of crime, punishment and restoration in the Nigeria legal
regime. In a systemic and tactical manner of achieving this maverick research, the study adopted the doctrinal research method divides its postulations into five chapters. Chapter one establishes the basis and substance of the research work by the background of the study, the statement of the problem, literature review, amongst other fields. Further, chapter two conceptualizes and analyzes the theory of crime under the Nigeria legal regime where the meaning was researched to be an act or a failure to act that is considered to be so detrimental to the well-being of a society, as judged by its prevailing standards, that action
against it cannot be entrusted to private initiative or to haphazard methods but must be taken by an organized society in accordance with tested procedures. The study further posits the rational choice, sociological positivism, and the biological positivism as the theories of
crime. Chapter three centered on the legal and institutional frameworks. According to the research, the concept of punishment was postulated as the imposition of an undesirable or unpleasant outcome on a group or
individual by an authority—in contexts ranging from child discipline to criminal law—as a response and deterrent to an undesirable or
unacceptable conduct or behavior. Deterrence theory of punishment and the incapacitation theory of punishment was presented as the theories of punishment. In a further research, chapter four describes restoration as
restorative justice where it presents it as a growing social movement to institutionalize peaceful approaches to harm, problem-solving and violations of legal and human rights. The research equally postulates victim reparation and community reconciliation as the theories of
restoration or restorative justice. In its final lap, chapter five presents the summary and overall findings of this research. Amongst the
recommendations, this research has posited that Courts and otherinstitutions must begin to implement the theory of community rehabilitation whilst awarding judgments.
Key Words: Crime, Legal, Punishment, Regime, Restoration.
