Overcrowded prisons haunt justice officials

The Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Laurent Esso, has urged Heads of Courts of Appeal and Regional Delegates of Penitentiary Administration to seek solutions to reduce overcrowding in prisons. With only 17,000 places, Cameroon’s jails now contain over 26,000 inmates.

Opening a two-day joint annual meeting of the justice officials yesterday, September 17, 2015 in Yaounde, on the theme, ‘Overcrowding in Prisons”, the Keeper of the Seals said the issue had become a source of worry not only to judges and jail managers but also to government.

After emphasising that a State of Law means respect of the law by all, penal punishment in case of violation could, in many cases, lead to deprivation of liberty. However, if regulatory edicts had completed legislation in defining modalities for executing sentences depriving one of his freedom, accompanying measures have not always followed the speed of the evolution of criminal law.

“Places where criminal punishments are executed have not received enough attention despite constant directives given to that effect by the Head of State, Paul Biya as well as efforts deployed by government,” he argued.

The Justice Minster advanced several possible causes. Out of 88 prisons existing, 78 are functioning. On the other hand, a total of 99 courts handled criminal cases, mobilising over 1,000 magistrates and hearing over 50,000 cases.

“This strong disproportion is an objective source of court delays which cause overcrowded prisons that we deplore,” he argued. However, while positing that problems of infrastructure and working conditions could not justify overcrowding in prisons, Laurent Esso castigated the behaviour of other actors who did not see the need to accelerate the treatment of criminal procedures, especially when preventive detention was involved. He equally questioned the efficiency of the growing number of society’s academic and religious institutions in taming the increasing level of delinquency while challenging society to also question its role in ensuring moral and civic education which could change undesired behaviour of citizens.

“Your respective experiences on this issue give us hope that this joint meeting could improve the understanding of the causes of overcrowded prisons,” he told participants.

The solemn opening was attended by the Keeper of the Seal’s special guests who included amongst others, the Supreme Court’s President and Advocate General, the Secretary of the Higher Judicial Council and the President of the Special Criminal Court.