By Imelda Osayande
No fewer than 30 inmates have been profiled for parole as part of efforts to decongest the facilities in the Correctional Command in Edo.
The Controller of Correctional Facilities in Edo, Mr Sunday Oyakhire, disclosed this on Tuesday at a roundtable of stakeholders meeting on Non-Custodial Measures (NCM)in Benin .
The event was organized by the Prisons Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA).
The Controller, represented by Ikpea Jonathan, Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Non-Custodial, said they have visited two of their Centres where they sensitized the inmates on the need to embrace parole.
This was with a view to rehabilitating and reintegrating them into society.
The Parole is a conditional release of a prisoner serving an indeterminate or unexpired sentence.
“On the 13th of June, we had a sensitization with our inmates on parole, Edo State here, we went to the two custodial centres.
“There is a high hope because as it is now, we have profiled almost about 33 inmates to be handled under parole.” he said.
The president, Prisons Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Uju Agomoh, an Associate Professor of Criminology and Security Studies, Christland University, Abeokuta, said the purpose is to highlight the advantages of alternatives to imprisonment
The Associate Professor added that Non-Custodial options like community service and probation offer rehabilitation and cost savings, creating a “win-win” situation for the government and the society.
:The Edo Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, expressed hope for inter-agency collaboration to reduce correctional centers’ congestion by properly implementing laws.
The Chief Judge, represented by Justice Efe Ikonwohnba, commended the organizers of the program and offered court support to alleviate overcrowding through legal implementation.
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