In an effort to ensure that the correctional facilities in Nasarawa State are decongested, the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) has urged security agencies and the judiciary to use the restorative justice system which was recently introduced into the criminal justice.
The call was made by the deputy Director PRAWA, Ogechi Ogu during the sensitisation training on restorative justice at the Police Headquarters in Lafia, the state capital.
Ogu said that the collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and the Correctional service would help in achieving restorative justice at the level of the people by decongesting the correctional facility.
According to her, “Is not every case that must go to court, it’s not every case that somebody must be sent into detention, there are certain cases that can be settled at the level of the police which is always in charge in alternative dispute resolution”,
She said a legal framework has been provided for long custodial measures which are put in the hands of the correctional centers.
She further charged the stakeholders involved to come together and make use of restorative justice as a means of ensuring that people are not been rushed to custody by decongesting the correctional centers.
” It would equally hasten access to justice for people including the victims”, she added.
The restorative justice platform provides an opportunity to identify the needs of people and put that into consideration in terms of restitution, compassion, and reparation for victims.
Nnenna.O
