'Ignorance, lack of judiciary/NCoS synergy hindering NCMs' utilisation'
Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) has identified ignorance and public perception as challenges affecting effective utilisation of Non-Custodial Measures (NCMs) in Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). The body also listed
Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) has identified ignorance and public perception as challenges affecting effective utilisation of Non-Custodial Measures (NCMs) in Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The body also listed lack of synergy between judiciary and officers of NcoS as well as confidence and trust of the judiciary in using non-custodial sanctions as other militating factors.
Programme Planning Manager and Team Lead of Advancing Implementation of Non-custodial Solutions project, Chioma Anuna raised the concern in Awka, Anambra state at the Specialised Judicial Training on Risk Assessment and Sentencing Guidelines for Non-Custodial Measures funded by European Union through International IDEA under RoLAC 2 Program.
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Addressing participants, comprising Judges, Magistrates, Court officials and NCoS senior officers, Anuna called for increased utilisation of the NCMs, as well as strong synergy and collaboration between judiciary and NCoS officers.
She said, "As gatekeepers to the criminal justice system, the judiciary is expected to issue non-custodial sanctions, without which NCoS won't have any supervisor. Hence the need for this capacity building in terms of objectives, applications and benefits of the NCMs.
