Enugu CJ ensures imposition of non-custodial sentences — News — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

The Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, has ensured full implementation of non-custodial sentences through community service sentences to check congestion in detention centers in the state.

Ozoemena said this in Enugu on Tuesday at the launch of the Operational Framework on Community Service Sentences and a workshop for Judges and Magistrates organized by the Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organization (CAPIO) in partnership with the Enugu State Justice Reform Team (ESJRT).

The Chief Justice, represented by Justice Anthony Onovo, stated that judges and magistrates were keen to start imposing community service sentences on juvenile offenders.

He said that the state judiciary and the state government will support and provide all the resources required for success in the state, which will be fully implemented.

“We are providing a temporary cell in the superior court building, we are providing offices for officers who are not in custody, and we will also liaise with the state attorney general’s office to ensure that this is properly implemented,” he said.

He praised Governor Peter Mbah for ensuring that the judicial system is given due attention to ensure justice in the state.

ALSO READ:Enugu state government demolishes kidnappers’ stronghold

CAPIO Executive Director Rev. Fr. Jude Isiguzo has commended the Enugu State Judiciary for its commitment to ensuring the implementation of non-custodial sentences through Community Service Sentences.

Isiguzo noted that the workshop and clarification of the Operational Framework for Community Service Sentences in Enugu State would ensure that magistrates and magistrates responsible for imposing sentences understand this duty.

“They need to understand the reasons behind sentencing minor offenders to community service; to reduce congestion in detention centres, to help rehabilitate the offender and to help the offender accept that crime is not beneficial,” he said.

“For example, when an offender is sentenced to one day to six months of community service for cutting the grass, keeping a public place clean, or providing other community services, this will act as a deterrent to others in their home and community.

“After serving his sentence in his own community, he will surely understand that committing a crime brings shame.”

Also speaking, Justice CI Nwobodo of the Enugu State High Court noted that non-custodial sentences have been enshrined in law for a long time, adding that the resources and provisions to make it work have so far hindered its implementation.

Nwobodo thanked CAPIO for coming to ensure its implementation in the latter as well.

“We also need more functional nursing homes or children’s homes, so that young people will be rehabilitated and there will be no point in them going to reformatories and mingling with hardened criminals,” he said.