Petty offenders serving jail terms to be released to decongest prisons
The exercise which is also a cost-cutting measure for the prisons is carried out by CSO, probation and Judiciary officers assisted by aftercare service officials.
Thousands of petty offenders serving sentences of three years and below across the country are set to leave jail through the Community Service Order that helps in transferring convictions to non-custodial sentences, and decongesting prisons.
Principal Secretary in the State Department of Correctional Services Salome Muhia Beacco has directed probation officers to expedite the preparation of reports for inmates serving jail terms over petty crimes for consideration.
The probation officers have also been directed to prepare reports for sentence review of convicts serving longer sentences but remaining with short jail terms to help in monitoring the progress of their rehabilitation while plans are being made to facilitate their reintegration into society.
"We have increased the number of probation officers (across the country) to scale up the process so that those eligible are considered for community work as punishment," Salome said while commissioning new infrastructure at Isiolo GK Prisons that included watch towers and a perimeter wall.
The exercise which is also a cost-cutting measure for the prisons is carried out by CSO, probation and Judiciary officers assisted by aftercare service officials.
Correctional Services PS Salome Muhia Beacco plants and waters a tree outside Isiolo County Probation offices on June 13, 2024. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu)
Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Nicholas Maswai, the PS said releasing the petty offenders, the majority of who are men, helps ensure family unity, integration and reconciliation with offended parties or communities.
"Women whose husbands have been incarcerated struggle to raise the children and statistics show such families are at high risk of facing poverty and the children becoming delinquent as teenagers due to lack of a mentor," she said.
The probation reports for inmates at Isiolo Men and Women Prisons will wait until next month when Isiolo High Court will be opened as they can only be reviewed by a High Court Judge considering they were made by the Magistrates Court.
High Court Judge Lilian Mutende, who is the National CSO Chairperson, said the expected elevation of Isiolo Law Courts, will see the inmates' probation reports reviewed from time to time so that petty offenders are considered for community work.
"There is a need to stay positive in anticipation of the release because we do not want a scenario where a petty offender is released and re-arrested for committing the same offence. We want them reformed and rehabilitated to contribute positively to our economy," Justice Mutende said.
Probation and Aftercare Services Secretary Dr Christine Obudi said community engagements will be carried out to ensure the inmates are well received after their release.
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