Group urges Increased Non-custodial Utilization, Judiciary, Nigerian Correctional Service Synergy

By Praise Chinecherem

Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) has identified ignorance and public perception as challenges affecting effective utilization of Non-Custodial Measures (NCMs) in custodian centers of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

The association also listed lack of synergy between judiciary and officers of NcoS as well as lack of confidence and trust on the part of the judiciary in using non-custodial sanctions as other factors.

Programme Planning Manager and Team Lead of Advancing Implementation of Non-custodial Solutions project, Chioma Anuna raised the concern in Awka , Anambra state at the Specialized Judicial Training on Risk Assessment and Sentencing Guidelines for Non-Custodial Measures.

The project, implemented by PRAWA is funded by European Union through International IDEA under RoLAC 2 Program.

Addressing participants, including Judges, Magistrates, Court officials and NCoS senior officers, Anuna called for increased utilization of the NCMs, as well as strong synergy and collaboration between judiciary and NCoS officers.

She said, “Over time, we discovered that despite the emergence of administration of criminal justice law of states and federal act, as well as NcS act of 2019, the laws are still not fully and effectively utilized.

“Among the challenges are lack of awareness, confidence and trust on the part of the judiciary in using non-custodial sanctions. There’s also issues of public perception and lack of synergy and collaboration.

“As gatekeepers to criminal justice system, the judiciary is expected to issue non-custodial sanctions, without which NCoS won’t have any supervisor. Hence the need for this capacity building in terms of objectives, applications and benefits of the NCMs.

“The training will expose participants to challenges hindering utilization of the laws and to proffer solutions. It will also look at ways to strengthen collaborations with NCoS towards ensuring that use of NCMs is advanced in the criminal justice system.

“We expect that justice from the criminal justice system will be proportionate and rehabilitative aimed at correcting and not just punishing offenders.”

Controller, NCoS Anambra state Command, Ike Anslem said the training was targeted at deepening participants’ collective understanding of legal foundations of non-custodial sentencing, introduce risk assessment tools that support informed judicial decision-making and strengthen collaboration between the Judiciary and the Non-Custodial officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Ike, represented by the Command PRO,
CSC Francis Ekezie appreciated judicial officers and partners at the engagement, describing their presence as demonstration of strong commitment to strengthening the administration of justice and improving the effectiveness of our criminal justice system.

According to him, the introduction of non-custodial measures under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 marked a significant milestone in the reform of Nigeria’s correctional system.

“The Act formally established the Non-Custodial Service as a key component of the correctional framework. These measures provide practical alternatives to imprisonment, especially for minor and non-violent offenders.

“Non-custodial measures such as community service, probation, and other alternatives help reduce congestion in custodial centres while promoting rehabilitation, restitution, and the successful reintegration of offenders into society,” he said.

The Controller however noted that the success of such measures were largely dependent on confidence and active participation of the Judiciary, stressing the critical role Judges and Magistrates play in determining when non-custodial options should be applied in the interest of justice and societal balance.

Describing the exercise as timely and strategic, the Controller was confident that the discussions would lead to practical outcomes, including improved utilization of non-custodial sanctions, stronger institutional collaboration, and development of practical action points that would support effective implementation of non-custodial measures in the State.

Also speaking, Program Assistant, PRAWA, Edo state, Ibrahim Laibo expressed concerns over worsening conditions of inmates in correction centers across the country.

Laibo, a clinical psychologist who blamed the situation on lack of adequate care and environmental conditions of the facilities, called for support from organizations and spirited individuals and other stakeholders in assisting government address the trend.

“Currently, about 8,500 inmates are suffering from one form of mental disorder or another which needs urgent attention.

“There’s need for support from organizations and spirited individuals and other stakeholders to ensure they get care and medications as government can’t do it alone.

“We’re also advocating for recruitment of more professionals like psychologists, social workers and counselors to assist them.

“That these inmates committed one crime or the other is not the reason to ignore them because they’re also human with rights.

“Some of them have different skills but due to their state, they can’t maximize the skills. But when they’re properly managed, their best would come out after serving their jail terms.

“After their rehabilitation, they’re expected to be integrated back to the society and can make meaningful contributions.

“The same applies to those who are genetically vulnerable following family history of mental illness, and predisposed to certain stressful condition.

“They need help from government and correction authorities to provide certain form of education and therapy for them so they can bounce back to life after their incaseration.

International IDEA Representative, Josephine Onah said RoLAC is committed to mechanisms targeted at assisting inmates of correctional facilities as well as reducing number of those on awaiting trials.

She regretted growing population of inmates in custodian centers, stressing the need for alternatives to incaseration.

“Incarcerating people all the time is not the best option. There’s need for alternatives, including community service, especially for those with minor offences.

“That will not only assist in rehabilitating them, but reintegrating them back into the society seamlessly.

“We’re optimistic that the NCMs issues will become active and optimally utilized. We want to see more of those non-custodial alternatives to incaseration after this training.

Onah expressed joy at the fruitful partnership with PRAWA, especially in the three thematic areas of interest – criminal justice delivery, access to justice for women, children and PWDs and anti-corruption.

“These are large scope of work we can’t do alone, reason we’re partnering with PRAWA who we’re sure has the capacity to deliver under a grant arrangement,” she added.