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Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, Komba Kamanda, has launched a five-day nationwide initiative to monitor Prisons Courts and address overcrowding in correctional centers.
The program, which began on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, and concludes on Saturday, July 5, 2025, aims to enhance access to justice and expedite legal processes for inmates.
Six judges have been deployed to various regions, including Bo, Kenema, Moyamba, Mattru Jong, Magburaka, Kabala, Makeni, Kambia, Port Loko, and Freetown. These judges will conduct in-prison court sittings to review cases involving prolonged adjournments, reassess bail conditions, and determine the legal status of inmates with mental or physical disabilities, as well as the elderly.
The initiative’s primary goal is to decongest correctional facilities and ensure prompt and fair hearings for all prisoners.
Chief Justice Kamanda emphasized the significance of the exercise, stating, “This exercise is part of our continuing commitment to take justice to the people—especially the most vulnerable behind bars. By bringing Judges into the correctional centers, we wouldn’t only decongest our prisons but also uphold the fundamental rights of every accused person to a fair and timely trial. We are grateful for the support of our development partners, particularly the UNDP, in making this possible.”
