PRISCA CALLS FOR USE OF NON CUSTODIAL SENTENCES TO REDUCE PRISON CONGESTION
The Prison’s Care and Counselling Association (PRISCA) is advocating for the increased use of non custodial sentences to alleviate prison overcrowding.
PRISCA Executive Director Godfrey Malembeka said that non custodial options, such as suspended sentences and community sentences, should be utilized more effectively, particularly for misdemeanor or petty offenses.
He said that the Law Association of Zambia should ensure that they fulfil their promise of ensuring that private firms provide probono services to at least one person annually
Mr Malembeka said that that proper representation could lead to more individuals receiving lower sentences, discharges, or non-custodial sentences.
Alternatively, to reduce the backlog in prisons, Mr Malembeka said that the government should Increase the number of government lawyers to represent those that can not afford to pay for private services.
He added that the government could also relax it’s bail terms by allowing people to pay for bail in kind.
“Some people have goats, cows and pigs, why not allow them to pay in kind, using their livestock than cash cash cash all the time for bail?” He questioned.
He also acknowledged President Hakainde Hichilema’s efforts in pardoning over 6,000 inmates, in three years, including 1,500 in May and 856 on Independence Day, last week.
However, to help integrate those pardoned, into society, Mr Malembeka urged traditional leaders and government agencies to support them [pardoned individuals] by providing land, seeds, and fertilizers, leveraging on the skills acquired during incarceration.
Z.R
PRISCA CALLS FOR USE OF NON CUSTODIAL SENTENCES TO REDUCE PRISON CONGESTION
