Blog
The Day of the African Child: A Day of Celebration and a Reminder of Ongoing Challenges in the Juvenile Justice System
The Day of the African Child was celebrated throughout Sierra Leone by various activities including film shows, dances, and parties. School heads...
Enhancing Juvenile Justice: The Establishment of the Juvenile Court in Bo
Penal systems exist for many reasons. In general, two theories drive the decision by courts on how to punish criminals: retribution, punishment for...
The Future of Child Offenders at Question: A Look into Sierra Leone’s Juvenile Justice System
I sit in the Juvenile Court surrounded by young boys waiting for their trial to commence, one by one. Across...
Civil Society Groups Must be Held to the Same Standards of Accountability as Government Institutions…
The number of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Sierra Leone has shot up since the end of the war. The role of CSOs and NGOs shot into...
At the Local Court No. 2 in Bo: Court Chairman and Clerk Need to Improve on their Public Image
Some officials of the Local Court No.2 in Bo have not stopped amusing court users and independent monitors with their endless quarrel over money. In...
Paucity of Interpreters May Derail Justice at the Bo Magistrate Court
Court proceedings at the formal justice system in Sierra Leone are conducted in English, the country’s official language. Although an application...
Special Court for Sierra Leone Approves Indictment for Contempt Proceedings: Lessons for Sierra Leone’s Justice System
The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) on 24th May 2011 instructed two independent counsel to issue indictments and subsequently prosecute...
Judicial Impartiality at Risk at the Bo NA Court: Chairman Openly Takes Sides…
Approximately 70 percent of Sierra Leone’s population relies on traditional form of justice, which is usually more accessible, cheaper, and faster...
The Need to Guarantee Fair Trial Rights in the High Court Holden in the North
The Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991, provides, amongst others, fair trial rights that should be granted to every individual who is alleged to...