By Hassan Solokoh Bockarie
The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has raised serious concerns over what it described as a “catastrophic breakdown of human rights, safety, and basic dignity” within correctional facilities in Freetown. In a press release issued after a monitoring visit on 17 February 2026, the organization detailed alarming conditions at facilities operated by the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS).
According to CHRDI, its findings revealed widespread violations of due process, including prolonged detention without indictment. The organization reported that 76 males and 17 females were being held in “safe custody” without official reasons or documentation from the Trial on Indictment Court (TOCU), while 385 males and 36 females were in detention beyond the legally mandated period without indictment.
CHRDI stated that the absence of timely indictments constitutes a grave violation of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) and international human rights standards. The group noted that most of the affected detainees do not have legal representation, leaving them vulnerable and without access to justice.
The press release further disclosed that 13 male inmates were on reserved judgment, while 205 others have faced prolonged trial adjournments dating from 2016 to 2025. Of the 29 foreign nationals detained at the male correctional facility, one reportedly died in February 2026, with no explanation provided to the monitoring team regarding the cause of death.
Extreme overcrowding was also highlighted as a critical concern. CHRDI revealed that the male correctional facility, originally constructed to accommodate 324 inmates, currently houses 1,802 men. Cells designed for single occupancy are now reportedly holding up to 13 inmates, creating conditions that increase the risk of infectious disease transmission and compromise basic human dignity.
The organization described the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) situation as deplorable. Detainees, according to the report, face severe shortages of clean water and adequate food. At the female correctional facility, eight children between the ages of 0 and 2 were recorded as living with their incarcerated mothers.
Medical services within the facilities were described as severely limited and inadequate. CHRDI reported that 97 male inmates and 15 female inmates are living with HIV, while 26 males tested positive for tuberculosis. The group expressed concern that the available medical infrastructure is insufficient to address these health challenges.
During the visit, 15 male inmates were admitted to a makeshift prison hospital with only 16 beds serving over 1,000 inmates. The clinic reportedly lacks essential medical supplies and equipment. In the female unit, five hospital beds serve more than 200 inmates, supported by five nurses—sometimes with only one nurse on duty at a time. CHRDI also documented 11 cases of mental illness—nine males and two females—who were said to be receiving improper care.
The organization further raised alarm over failing security infrastructure, noting that some CCTV cameras and security scanners are non-functional. Staff are reportedly exposed to naked electrical cables, and fire extinguishers are outdated and poorly maintained, posing safety risks to both inmates and correctional officers.
Calling for urgent reforms, CHRDI urged the Government of Sierra Leone and the SLCS to fast-track indictments and release unlawfully detained individuals, repair critical infrastructure, and ensure access to adequate food, water and healthcare. The group also recommended implementing reforms proposed by the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone and other civil society actors to address overcrowding and modernize facilities. “No nation can claim progress if its correctional facilities remain centres of human degradation. Justice must be more than a legislative promise; it must be a functional reality for every Sierra Leonean,” said Abdul M. Fatoma, Chief Executive of CHRDI.
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