KAILAHUN, 15th October 2026 – Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, has ordered the release of inmates at the Kailahun Correctional Centre as part of efforts to ease overcrowding and promote access to justice.
Justice Kamanda gave the order during a visit to the facility where he reviewed case files of inmates held for minor offences and those who had already served a substantial portion of their sentences.
Among the cases reviewed was that of an inmate convicted for stealing one kilogramme of cocoa valued at NLe 80, a case which highlighted concerns over proportionality in sentencing for minor offences.
Following the review, the Chief Justice ordered the release of inmates deemed eligible, taking into account the seriousness of their offences and the time already spent in custody.
The intervention is part of ongoing judicial reforms aimed at reducing pressure on correctional facilities across the country. Sierra Leone’s prisons have for years been grappling with overcrowding, with many facilities holding more than double their intended capacity and a high number of inmates on remand for minor offences.
Speaking to the released inmates, Justice Kamanda warned against reoffending and urged them to embrace responsible conduct and become law-abiding citizens.
The Chief Justice has in recent months embarked on similar exercises in other districts, including Freetown, Bo and Makeni, as part of a broader prison decongestion drive and the Judiciary’s Access to Justice initiative.
The move reflects efforts to balance accountability with rehabilitation and humane treatment, while ensuring that custodial decisions remain fair, proportionate and responsive to individual circumstances.
Officials from the Sierra Leone Correctional Service welcomed the intervention, noting that such reviews help improve prison management and support reintegration of low-risk offenders into their communities.
