Concord Times (Freetown)
Mohamed Vandi
26 June 2008
Kenema — Clerk of work international consultant services (ICS) has announced the completion of a six-month project to construct female and juvenile prisons in the eastern district town of Kenema, with funds provided by justice sector development programme (JSDP).
Aiah Paul Kaingbanja said: "the contract was awarded to the Rayan Iftoni Construction Enterprise based in Bo on December 23 but that the construction work started in January. So we are still within the six months duration for the handing over ceremony." Kaingbanja said the prisons have four cells each with two squat toilets and four beds.
He said there are additional two outside toilets, three bathrooms with laundering facilities, a kitchen with cement table and a store.
"Other facilities include a nursing room with two toilets, where sick prisoners are treated. Two water tanks to accommodate water especially in the dry season and one generator for alternative power supply," he explained.
Chief officer class two of the Kenema prisons department Samuel J. Soloku said they were very impressed to have had female prisons of an international standard in the township.
He said the development would help solve the numerous problems prisons officers encounter with prisoners.
"Female and male inmates will now be separated completely to avoid interpersonal contacts. This has, as some point, created psychological problems, especially for female prisoners," he said.
However, the situation is still a problem in Freetown where the remand home to house juveniles in conflict with the law could not help either.
"Once sentenced, juveniles are supposed to be transferred to the Approved School at Kissy, where they are expected to serve their sentences while undergoing educational and vocational trainings," suggested the Sierra Leone court monitoring programme in its 27th edition of SLCMP newsletter.
However, remand home and approved school have come under serious criticisms, mainly for the lack of basic facilities for rehabilitation of juveniles which is their primary focus.
"Chapter 44 of the Laws of Sierra Leone 1960 makes provision for the establishment of the Remand Home and the Approved School so that juveniles will not be detained together with adults and to ensure that their justice system is suited to the particular needs of youth in conflict with the law."
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