By Chinedum Treasure
Stakeholders in criminal justice administration in Anambra State have called for stronger civil society advocacy and institutional reforms to enhance the implementation of non-custodial measures in the state.
They made the call in Awka at a one-day Civil Society Stakeholders’ Meeting on Non-Custodial Measures organised by the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), in partnership with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme under the Advancing the Implementation of Non-Custodial Solutions (AI-NCS) Project.
The meeting focused on increased funding, legal reforms, rehabilitation and reintegration of released inmates, as well as measures to decongest correctional centres and promote a more humane justice system.
Speaking at the event, PRAWA Executive Director, Dr. Uju Agomoh, said the initiative was aimed at advancing community corrections through increased use of probation, suspended sentences, community service and parole.
She also highlighted PRAWA’s intervention areas to include research and advocacy, training and capacity building, human rights monitoring, rehabilitation and support services, and community justice programmes.
State Coordinator of RoLAC, Dr. Josephine Onah, represented by State Associate Project Officer, James Osubor, reaffirmed the programme’s commitment to justice sector reforms. She called for sustained media and stakeholder engagement to advocate increased funding for non-custodial measures.
Assistant Controller of Corrections in charge of the Non-Custodial Unit, Phibina Nneka Ejiofor, said probation, parole, community service, restorative justice and other court-ordered measures could help decongest correctional centres and prevent minor offenders from unnecessary exposure to hardened criminals.
She identified limited public and judicial awareness, inadequate legal and institutional frameworks and capacity gaps as major challenges to effective implementation.
The meeting, attended by representatives of civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, media and academia, also examined Sections 12 and 44 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, and the proposed Anambra State Correctional Service Bill.
Tags: PRAWA, RoLAC, NCoS, Anambra
