The Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) has proposed a budget of NLe 193,150,300.00 for the fiscal year 2025. The proposal was presented at the Ministry of Finance’s ongoing policy hearing and budget discussions in Freetown on Monday, August 19.

Chief Superintendent Susan Baby Coker, Assistant Director of the SLCS, delivered the presentation, providing a historical overview of the correctional service, which dates back to 1787. The Freetown Central Prison, now known as the Freetown Male Correctional Centre, was established in 1914 with an initial capacity of 324 prisoners under British colonial rule.

The SLCS has evolved significantly, with recent developments including the construction of a new ultra-modern headquarters at the Special Court facility in New England Ville. The service is also expanding correctional facilities nationwide, including new male and female cell blocks in Moyamba, Falaba, and Karene.

Superintendent Coker emphasized the ongoing digitalization efforts within the SLCS, including the implementation of an integrated Corrections Management system, which features CCTV cameras, fingerprint scanners, drones, and other modern security measures.

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The SLCS is also engaged in agricultural activities, albeit on a small scale, with farming projects in various regions, including a 10-acre sorghum and cassava farm in Mafanta. The service has expressed the need for funding to expand these agricultural initiatives into large-scale mechanized farming.

However, challenges persist, particularly in the relocation of the Freetown Male Correctional Centre, which awaits government funding. Additionally, the service plans to recruit 1,000 new officers soon.

Despite setbacks, such as the destruction of equipment during an attempted jailbreak in 2020, the SLCS continues to produce goods, including furniture, soap, bread, and other items, with plans to expand production as part of its reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration efforts.

Responding to the presentation, Deputy Minister of Finance I, Madam Abigail Alicu, praised the detailed presentation and urged the SLCS to prioritize revenue mobilization. Acting Director General of the SLCS, Brigadier General Shickh Sulaiman Massaquoi, acknowledged the issue of overcrowding in correctional centers and affirmed the service’s commitment to addressing it.

The SLCS’s budget proposal is part of the broader discussions as various ministries, departments, and agencies present their budgets for FY 2025.