By: Andrew Chokpeleh
Freetown, 2nd November 2026- The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has written to the Director General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS), demanding the full list of inmates detained at the Freetown Male and Female Correctional Centres. The organisation requested this on Thursday, October 29, 2026, as part of its efforts to obtain detailed information about people held in the country’s correctional facilities.
In its communication to the Director General, CHRDI requested a comprehensive record of inmates at both facilities, signalling a renewed push for transparency in the management of correctional centres. The request comes amid growing concerns raised by the organisation over detention conditions, overcrowding and the treatment of inmates within Sierra Leone’s correctional system.
The demand follows CHRDI’s recent engagement with the correctional facilities, where the organisation raised concerns about the circumstances of detainees and the need for greater accountability in the administration of detention. Access to a complete list of inmates could help establish a clearer picture of the number of people held in custody and support efforts to examine their detention status. CHRDI cites sections 17 & 10 of the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone, which provide for a fair trial and liberty.
In the same vein, the organization has given the Sierra Leone Correctional Service three working days to comply as provided for by the Right to Access Information Act of 2013. Failure to comply, CHRDI has mentioned that they will file a habeas corpus ‘to produce the body’ to the court for the release of the 496 inmates that CHRDI mention are unlawfully held at the two correctional centres.
CHRDI’s request also places renewed attention on the importance of accurate and accessible records within correctional institutions. Such information is relevant to understanding the circumstances of individuals in custody and assessing whether appropriate procedures are being followed in the administration of detention.
The organisation’s letter comes at a time when questions have been raised about prolonged pre-trial detention, delays in judicial proceedings and the conditions under which inmates are held. CHRDI has previously called for urgent action to address concerns affecting detainees and to strengthen respect for their rights within the justice system.
By formally requesting the full inmate register, CHRDI is seeking information directly from the authority responsible for managing the country’s correctional facilities. The response from the Sierra Leone Correctional Service could provide further clarity on the records maintained at the two Freetown centres and help inform ongoing discussions about transparency and accountability in the correctional system.
Authorities at the Sierra Leone Correctional Service are yet to come out with an official response to the request made by CHRDI.
