Stakeholders demand parole funding to decongest Delta prisons

In a bid to reduce overcrowding in Delta State correctional centres, stakeholders in the administration of the justice system in Nigeria have appealed to the Delta State government to, as a matter of urgency, fund the parole system.

The stakeholders made the call on Monday in a communique at the end of a two-day workshop in Asaba, the Delta State capital, signed by the Executive Director of the CLEEN Foundation, Mr Gad Peter, on behalf of the participants.

They urged the state government to allocate resources for the training of parole officers, implementation of monitoring technologies, and support services for parolees.

The communiqué reads in part, “An effective parole system offers numerous benefits, including reducing prison overcrowding, promoting rehabilitation, and enhancing public safety.

“It provides a structured pathway for offenders to reintegrate into society while ensuring they are monitored and supported, reducing the likelihood of re-offending

“In light of the pressing need to reform our criminal justice system and enhance the effectiveness of offender rehabilitation, the parole system has been identified as a critical component.’’

“The CLEEN Foundation, as a leading organization working within the justice sector, with the support from MacArthur Foundation, convened a stakeholders meeting to discuss the need to depoliticize the parole process as well as standardize the criteria for selection of inmates in the Nigerian Correctional Service facilities in Delta State.

“The two-day Performance Appraisal Workshop on The Legal Framework on Parole and the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria, held in Asaba, Delta State, delved into various aspects of parole, including its legislative underpinnings, procedural challenges, and the role of different stakeholders in its administration.”

They noted that parole helps to manage custodial centres’ population by allowing eligible inmates to serve part of their sentences under supervised release.

The foundation urged the state government to enact laws and policies which define the criteria and procedures for parole eligibility and ensure parolees adhere to their parole conditions through regular check-ins and collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

The participants noted that the Delta State Parole Board set up two years ago never functions due to lack of funding, asserting that the Parole Board is to assess and determine parole eligibility based on established criteria, including the inmate’s behaviour, rehabilitation progress, and risk assessment.

The communique also called on NGOs to offer housing, employment, counselling, and other support services to parolees to facilitate their reintegration, as well as advocate for reforms and raise public awareness about the benefits of an effective parole system.