The Director of Prison at the Bureau of Corrections Counselor Saye G. Guinkpa, has announced the implementation of new measures in seven of Liberia’s 15 counties to alleviate prison facilities being overcrowded.
The exercise is being implemented in Montserrado, Nimba, Lofa, Bong, Margibi, Bassa and Grand Cape Mount counties.
Guinkpa, outlined progress made in tackling prison over crowdedness. He underscored the need to introduce a magisterial platform, and the establishment of prohibition and parole programs. These initiatives aim to address the urgent needs of inmates while streamlining the judicial process.
Cllr. Guinkpa said that the induction of the magisterial platform, is a collaborative effort between the judiciary and the Ministry of Justice. This program allows magistrates to conduct hearings directly in prisons, facilitating timely decisions on cases where defendants have been held beyond the statutory limit of 30 days without a court appearance. In such instances, magistrates have the authority to either dismiss or transfer the case based on the circumstances surrounding the delay, such as the failure of witnesses or state prosecutors to appear in court.
The initiative also includes the establishment of a “strike court,” where magistrates will examine whether a case falls under their jurisdiction. This process will help determine if cases should be transferred or dismissed, further expediting the judicial process and alleviating the burden on overcrowded facilities.
Guinkpa said, in addition to the magistrate platform, the Bureau of Corrections has introduced prohibition and parole programs designed to provide alternatives to incarceration for minor offenses. Under this framework, individuals convicted of less crimes may serve their sentences outside of jail. Instead of being imprisoned, offenders will have the opportunity to fulfill their sentences through community service, restitution, or other penalties deemed appropriate by the court.
These measures are part of a broader strategy to enhance the efficiency of the justice system, while ensuring that the rights and needs of inmates are adequately addressed.
he said that these reforms aim to do away with the over crowdedness of prisons facilities across the country with specific emphasis on the Monrovia Central Prison, which is currently housing over 1,005 inmates, significantly exceeding its intended capacity of 375 inmates.
This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for government intervention and resource allocation to address the pressing issue of overcrowding in the nation correctional facilities.
”We called on the government to prioritize budgetary support for the prison system, and invest in the necessary infrastructure to alleviate this critical situation,” Cllr. Guinkpa noted.