The Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, has assured full implementation of non-custodial sentences through community service sentences to check decongestion in custodial centres in the state.

Ozoemena said this on Tuesday in Enugu at the unveiling of the Operational Framework for Community Service Sentences and a workshop for Judges and Magistrates organised by Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation (CAPIO) in partnership with the Enugu State Justice Reform Team (ESJRT).

Represented by Justice Anthony Onovo, the Chief Judge stated that judges and magistrates were eager to commence sentencing of minor offenders to community service.

He said it would be fully implemented while the state judiciary and state government would be backing and providing all resources necessary for it to succeed in the state.

“We are providing a temporary cell within the high court premises, provision of offices for non-custodial officers and we will also liaison with the office of the state attorney general to see to its smooth implementation,” he said.

He commended Governor Peter Mbah for ensuring that the judicial system was given due attention to improving justice delivery within the state.

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The Executive Director of CAPIO, Rev. Fr. Jude Isiguzo, commended the Enugu State Judiciary for its commitment to ensure the implementation of non-custodial sentencing through the Community Service Sentences.

Isiguzo noted that the workshop and unveiling of the Operational Framework for Community Service Sentences in Enugu State will ensure that judges and magistrates responsible for sentencing understand the task.

“They need to understand the reasons behind sentencing minor offenders to community service sentencing to decongest custodial centres, help to rehabilitate the offender and for the offender to acknowledge that offence is not beneficial,” he said.

“For instance, once an offender is sentenced to community service between a day to six months either to cut grasses, keep a public place clean or provide other community services, it will act as deterrent to others in his home and community.

“After he must have served through his or her sentence within his community, he or she will definitely realise that taking to crime brings shame.”

Also speaking, Justice C.I. Nwobodo of the Enugu State High Court, noted that non-custodial sentencing had been in the law for ages, adding that resources and provisions to make it work had prevented its implementation until now.

Nwobodo appreciated CAPIO for coming around to ensure it is implemented to the latter.

“We also have a need for more functional bolster homes or juvenile homes so that juveniles will be reformed and they have no business going to correctional centres to mix with hardened criminals,” she said.