As a way to reinstate the Sierra Leone Correctional Service into a strong institution that promotes positive rehabilitation of detainees, United States Department of States in collaboration with the United Nations Committee against torture on Thursday launched “from prisons to corrections” project.
Giving an overview of the project at the Sierra Leone Bank complex, Joseph Lamboi informed the gathering that the project seeks to improve living conditions and treatment of detainees and to address specific challenges in the correctional centres.
Mr Lamboi referred to some of those challenges as the lack of adequate infrastructure, resources and overcrowding the correctional centres as some of the struggles that were reviewed which led to the initial transformation of the Sierra Leone prisons to correctional centres.
Institutional reform, Mr Lamboi stated goes beyond a mere change of nomenclature adding that management and legal reforms with human resources are essential in the correctional facilities together with the welfare, safety, security of inmates, correctional officers and the society.
Officially launching the project, the vice president, Victor Foh said the need to transform the institution is crucial and urgent as it helps ensure the physical growth of the facilities as well as transforming inmates into positive citizens once they are released.
Describing the reform measures as imperative that ensure the human rights of inmates are respected, correctional officers are sufficiently capacitated to deliver quality service and correctional facilities are upgraded to acceptable standard. Mr Foh registered the government’s commitment to add value to the SLCS.
“I want to thank each and every one of Sierra Leone’s corrections officers, and please know that your efforts which directly contribute to the safety of everyone in this country are appreciated.” Mr Foh said.
While expressing gratitude to the US embassy and the UN for their support in striving for democracy, peace, stability and prosperity of all citizens, Mr Foh noted the overcrowding of inmates in correctional centres across the country with the limited access to water; health and sanitation facilities which he said are some of the issues that facilitate rapid spread of communicable diseases.
Meanwhile, as other development partners from the UN, government ministers, agencies and departments noted their strong partnership to actualise the quest in transforming the correctional facilities, US Ambassador; John Hoover noted the embassy support in advancing rule of law in Sierra Leone.
”Our $1.5 million contribution to the ‘from prisons to corrections’ project will help SLCS implement its own new strategic plan to protect the welfare of inmates in correctional facilities and institutionalise improvement in management and operations.” Ambassador Hoover outlined.
By Sylvia Villa
Tuesday November 08, 2016
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