As part of efforts to support justice and ease overcrowding in Sierra Leone’s prisons, the Legal Aid Board, backed by funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), provided legal representation to 951 inmates during a nationwide Prison Court session held from 1st to 11th July 2025.
The court sessions, held in ten Correctional Centers across the country, aimed to review cases of remand and convicted inmates; many of whom had been imprisoned beyond their legal terms or without timely trials. The centers included Magburaka, Kabala, Makeni, Kambia, Port Loko, Mattru Jong, Moyamba, Kenema, Waterloo and the Pademba Road Male and Female Correctional Centers in Freetown.
Out of the 951 inmates represented by Legal Aid Counsels:
- 376 inmates were released after their sentences were reduced to time already served.
- 3 inmates were granted bail.
- 572 inmates had their sentences either reduced or maintained.
- Several matters were reserved for judgment, with calls for swift delivery, while others categorized as Magisterial matters were directed to be concluded promptly.
The release breakdown from the respective correctional centers is as follows:
- Magburaka – 75 inmates
- Kabala – 14 inmates
- Makeni – 87 inmates
- Waterloo – 43 inmates
- Kambia – 25 inmates
- Port Loko – 59 inmates
- Mattru Jong – 21 inmates
- Moyamba – 8 inmates
- Kenema – 53 inmates
- Pademba Road (Male and Female) – 23 inmates
Among the most notable releases was John Mensa, a Ghanaian national who had been serving a 30-year sentence for larceny by trick. His sentence was reviewed and significantly reduced during the court session presided over by Justice Alusine Sesay JSC, leading to his immediate release and subsequent deportation to Ghana.
The Prison Court, an initiative of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, serves as a vital mechanism to address prolonged detention and wrongful imprisonment. It specifically targets over-sentenced or long-standing remand inmates and aims to decongest correctional facilities while ensuring fair access to justice for all.
Officials from the Legal Aid Board commended the continued support from the UNDP and emphasized that the legal representation provided during the sessions reflects the Board’s core mission; to uphold the rights of vulnerable persons and ensure equal access to justice, regardless of economic status.
The initiative has been widely applauded by civil society groups and correctional service officials who view it as a meaningful step toward reforming the justice system and restoring dignity to those who have long awaited justice behind bars.
