Kakata—The Resident Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Margibi County, Mardea Tarr Chenoweth, has decried the level of congestion in prisons across Liberia, stressing the need for the Government of Liberia to curb the challenges the prison sector is currently grappling with.
By Yawah Y. Jaivey, Contributing Writer
Judge Chenoweth, making the lamentation on Monday, May 13, 2024, in her formal opening address of the May Term of Court in Kakata, Margibi County, said the current prison populations in the country are far more than the capacity the prison facilities can handle.
Speaking on the theme: “The Overcrowding of The Prison Facilities in Liberia”, the Judge stated that the overcrowding of Liberia’s prisons is a pressing concern that demands immediate attention and collective action.
“It is a problem that does not only affect the inmates but also impacts the broader community and the administration of justice in our country. The courts are always blamed for the overcrowding of prisons,” she noted.
“Please be informed that it is the Ministry of Justice headed by the Executive Branch that is responsible for building prison facilities in our country. The population has grown; therefore, new and bigger prison facilities need to be constructed”.
The Margibi County Resident Circuit Court Judge explained that the Kakata Central Prison capacity is about 60 for inmates and said the halls currently have over 171 inmates and sometimes increase to 200, while the Bondiway Prison also in Margibi was built for 16 inmates and currently has 78 inmates, thereby stretching the prison facilities with additional 173 inmates.
Continuing, Judge Chenoweth added that Buchanan Prison which was built for 47 inmates presently has 125 inmates, Fish Town Prison was meant for just five inmates and now we have 50 inmates, Gbarnga Prison built for 130 inmates, currently has 175 inmates, Gbarpolu Prison, erected to accommodate 15 inmates, presently has 85 inmates, Greenville constructed to maintain 20 inmates currently hosting 65 and Harper Prison built for 36 inmates currently has 95 inmates.
She added that the Monrovia Prison was built to accommodate 374 inmates and currently has 1,500 inmates while Zwedru Prison was established to maintain 240 inmates, but presently has 350 inmates.
Giving further statistics, the Judge said in Lofa, Voinjama Prison built for 40 inmates at present has 145 inmates, Tubmanburg Prison in Bomi was meant to hold 126 inmates now 140, Saniquellie Prison in Nimba County was built to maintain 126 inmates but currently has 225, Robertsport Prison in Cape Mount was built for 25 inmates is currently holding 75 inmates and Rivercess Prison which was made for just two inmates; currently has 36 inmates.
Quoting the World Prison Brief 2019 and 2023 report in collaboration with UNDP, Judge Chenoweth said the official capacity of Liberia’s prison system is 1,351. In 2023, she stated that it was recorded that the prison population in total (including pre-trial detainees) was 3,000.
She stated that the figure is troubling and demands an urgent and serious concern because it poses significant challenges to the administration of justice and the well-being of inmates.
Judge Chenoweth noted that when prisons are overcrowded it becomes difficult to maintain basic standards of hygiene, healthcare, and safety of inmates, adding that inmates are forced to live in cramped conditions, often with insufficient access to fresh air, clean water, and adequate nutrition.
She lamented that the dire conditions plaguing correctional facilities in the country not only violate the basic human rights of inmates but also increase the risk of disease transmission, including the spread of contagious illnesses like tuberculosis and COVID-19.
“Moreover, it strains resources and undermines the effectiveness of rehabilitation and reintegration programs. With limited space and resources, it becomes increasingly challenging for authorities to provide inmates with the educational, vocational, and counseling services they need to successfully reintegrate into society upon release. As a result, the cycle of crime and incarceration perpetuates, contributing to the overall instability and insecurity of our communities”, Judge Chenoweth said.
Judge Chenoweth suggested that a comprehensive action plan that would ensure permanent gains are achieved must be crafted and implemented through the initiation of an alternative sentencing option for nonviolent offenders, diverting individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues to appropriate treatment programs, and promoting community-based interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of crimes.
At the same time, Judge Chenoweth stressed the need for the government to invest in the expansion and improvement of the country’s prison infrastructure to accommodate the current inmate population safely and humanely.
She said these improvements will involve constructing new facilities, renovating existing ones, and implementing measures to enhance security and reduce overcrowding in the short term—and strengthening efforts to promote accountability, transparency, and fairness within the criminal justice system.
“Addressing systemic issues such as arbitrary detention, prolonged pretrial detention, and the use of excessive force by law enforcement, we can help prevent the unnecessary incarceration of individuals and alleviate the burden on our prisons”, she recomm
