By Josephine Sesay
The Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) is stepping up efforts to rehabilitate persons in custody by expanding access to university education, vocational training and other skills-development opportunities aimed at preparing inmates for successful reintegration into society.
Director General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, Joseph J. Senessie, disclosed during the Government’s Weekly Press Conference held at the Miatta Civic Centre in Freetown.
Senessie said the Service is exploring stronger partnerships with higher learning institutions, including the University of Sierra Leone and the University of Makeni (UniMak), to provide eligible persons in custody with opportunities to pursue formal education and obtain recognised academic qualifications.
According to him, incarceration should not prevent individuals from improving themselves through education and skills development.
He stressed that people who spend several years in correctional facilities should still be given the opportunity to learn, develop their abilities and acquire qualifications that can improve their prospects once they are released.
The initiative forms part of the Correctional Service’s broader rehabilitation agenda, which seeks to move beyond confinement and punishment towards preparing inmates for productive lives after serving their sentences.
Senessie also highlighted the importance of vocational and practical skills training in the rehabilitation process. He noted that equipping persons in custody with employable skills could help them secure livelihoods after release, support their families and make positive contributions to their communities.
The Director General said rehabilitation remains essential to reducing the likelihood of former inmates returning to crime, as meaningful education and employment opportunities can provide them with alternatives and a stronger foundation for reintegration.
Beyond education and vocational training, Senessie reaffirmed the Correctional Service’s commitment to upholding human rights, ensuring humane treatment and strengthening transparency and accountability within correctional facilities.
However, he acknowledged that the Service continues to face significant challenges, particularly in the areas of access to justice and overcrowding.
He said addressing these challenges requires continued institutional reforms and the adoption of modern systems capable of improving the efficiency of correctional administration.
As part of its modernization plans, the Service is working towards improving the management of correctional records through electronic information management systems. Senessie also disclosed that the Service is exploring the potential use of artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to improve its operations.
The introduction of digital systems is expected to strengthen record keeping, improve access to information and enhance the overall management of correctional facilities.
Senessie maintained that the modernization of the correctional system must go hand in hand with rehabilitation and respect for the rights and dignity of persons in custody.
He said the ultimate objective is to establish a modern correctional system that protects society while providing inmates with genuine opportunities to reform, acquire knowledge and skills, and successfully reintegrate into their communities.
The proposed collaboration with universities and other training institutions therefore represents a significant step towards broadening rehabilitation opportunities within Sierra Leone’s correctional facilities.
If implemented effectively, the initiative could enable eligible inmates to leave custody with recognised qualifications and practical skills, helping them pursue legitimate livelihoods and rebuild their lives after release.
The Sierra Leone Correctional Service’s approach reflects a growing emphasis on correctional institutions as places not only for secure custody but also for rehabilitation, personal development and preparation for life beyond prison
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 7th September 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
