By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Parole funding to decongest Delta prisons
In an effort to address the overcrowding in Delta State correctional centres, stakeholders in Nigeria’s justice system have urgently called on the Delta State government to fund the parole system. This appeal was made on Monday in a communique released after a two-day workshop in Asaba, Delta State capital, signed by Mr. Gad Peter, Executive Director of the CLEEN Foundation.
The stakeholders urged the state government to allocate resources for training parole officers, implementing monitoring technologies, and providing support services for parolees. The communique emphasized that a well-funded parole system could reduce prison overcrowding, promote rehabilitation, and enhance public safety by providing a structured pathway for offenders to reintegrate into society while being monitored and supported.
The CLEEN Foundation, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, convened the stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the need to depoliticize the parole process and standardize criteria for inmate selection in Delta State’s correctional facilities. The two-day Performance Appraisal Workshop on The Legal Framework on Parole and the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria explored legislative underpinnings, procedural challenges, and the role of various stakeholders.
The communique also highlighted that parole helps manage the population of custodial centres by allowing eligible inmates to serve part of their sentences under supervised release. It called on the state government to enact laws and policies that define parole eligibility criteria and ensure parolees adhere to their conditions through regular check-ins and collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
The Delta State Parole Board, established two years ago, has been inactive due to a lack of funding. The board’s role includes assessing and determining parole eligibility based on established criteria such as the inmate’s behaviour, rehabilitation progress, and risk assessment.
The communique also encouraged NGOs to provide housing, employment, counselling, and other support services to parolees to aid their reintegration and advocate for reforms to raise public awareness about the benefits of an effective parole system.
Parole Funding to Decongest Delta Prisons