Briefing Paper

Improving Africa’s Prisons Prison Policy in Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zambia

“To address the crisis in the prison systems of the states examined here, action is required to increase both the capacity of detention facilities and funding of prison
systems. Additionally, legal and sentencing issues must be addressed to reduce the numbers being detained and put rehabilitation at the centre of justice systems. The myriad delays in judicial process that keep prisoners in prison before they can be tried must be reduced and policies on bail and parole liberalised. Training is required to ensure the minimum human rights standards to which governments have committed themselves.”