Urgent Call For Prison Decongestion and Clemency, in Delta State Justice System
By Ahabamnews
The Young Nigerian Rights Organization has requested that immediate steps be taken toward prison decongestion. The Delta State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022, recognizes that the existing model should shift “from punitive to reformative”, granting Judges and Magistrates the discretion to impose non-custodial measures in appropriate cases.
In a letter dated 6th September and addressed to the Delta State Government, the Organization called on the government to activate non-custodial sentencing mechanisms, especially for minors and first time offenders through community service or probation.
According to the Organization, such alternative sentencing options are vital in ensuring that minor offenders are not needlessly detained. The law empower’s Courts to utilize Community service which “reduce(s) congestion in prison”, helps rehabilitated prisoners, and prevents “convicts who commit simple offenses from mixing with hardened criminals”.
The Organization stated that, the Law endorsed the power of prerogative of mercy, also referred to as clement prophecy, state pardon or amnesty as “a useful tools in the administration of Criminal Justice” to decongest custodial centres.
We urged your office to expedite the application of the prerogative of mercy, granting amnesty or pardon when due, to relieve overcrowded custodial facilities.
It added, the steps align with the Law’s intention to foster efficiency, fairness, and rehabilitate withing the criminal justice system, and it helps in restoring Justice and humanity to our penal system.
