Lobby rolls out paralegal training for inmates
By KNA, July 20, 2023The Justice Defenders organisation in partnership with the Judiciary and the Correctional Facilities, has rolled out paralegal training for inmates aimed at helping them manoeuvre court trials knowledgeably during their cases.
According to Dixon Mwakazi, the Director of Legal, Human Rights, Research, and Statistics at Correctional Services, equipping inmates with legal skills and knowledge is key to decongesting the prisons.
Mwakazi said out of a population of up to 60,000 inmates in the country, over 15,000 are petty offenders who have been remanded for lack of legal representation and knowledge of the trial processes.
Mwakazi said through the paralegal training, inmates are imparted with the skills and knowledge on how to prosecute their cases, draft their appeals, and negotiate for lesser bail terms to secure release.
“Our prisons currently hold over 60,000 inmates but should hold up to 25,000 for optimal operation and service delivery, and this programme will help to decongest our facilities,” said Mwakazi. The Director further said some of the inmates have benefited from further studies and have acquired law degrees’ courtesy of the University of London to champion the rights of prisoners.