The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has called for stronger support from courts, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to expand the use and effective implementation of non-custodial measures in Lagos State.
The call was made on Tuesday at a one-day sensitisation workshop on non-custodial measures for civil society organisations and stakeholders in Lagos, organised by the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), in partnership with the NCoS and with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme.
Representing George Daramola, controller of Lagos State Command, a senior NCoS official said the introduction of non-custodial measures under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 had expanded the agency’s mandate beyond incarceration.
The measures include community service, probation, parole, restorative justice and other sanctions ordered by courts.
Victoria Dare, deputy controller of Corrections, Non-Custodial, NCoS Lagos State Command, said the shift was intended to move the justice system away from a predominantly punitive approach towards rehabilitation and reintegration.
