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The Government of Sierra Leone has launched a week-long intensive training and engagement session aimed at developing new sentencing guidelines for legal practitioners.
The initiative, led by Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay and held in collaboration with The Death Penalty Project, seeks to align sentencing practices with the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2022 and the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.
Since abolishing capital punishment in 2022, Sierra Leone has moved from mandatory death sentences to a system that grants judges greater discretion in determining penalties. The workshop is focused on equipping judges, prosecutors, and defence counsel with the tools to ensure sentences are proportionate to the specific circumstances of each case.
“This is part of our ongoing effort to build capacity for legal professionals, harmonize our laws, and reform our justice delivery process,” Sesay said.
The Death Penalty Project, a London-based non-governmental organisation, has supported Sierra Leone’s transition from capital punishment by providing research and technical assistance aimed at strengthening sentencing frameworks.
As implementation of the Criminal Procedure Act 2024 continues nationwide, officials say the proposed sentencing guidelines are expected to promote consistency, fairness, and respect for fundamental human rights within the justice system.
