Sierra Leone: A country review of crime and criminal justice, 2008

This introductory chapter of a 2009 report by the Institute for Security Studies reviews the state of crime and criminal justice in Sierra Leone. It details the systemic damage caused by authoritarian regimes and a decade-long civil war (1991–2002), the subsequent efforts toward security sector reform, the dual nature of the legal system (English and customary law), and persistent human rights challenges within the judiciary and prison systems.

• Sierra Leone's criminal justice system was severely degraded by a decade of civil war from 1991 to 2002. The conflict involved calculated attacks on judicial infrastructure, including police barracks, prisons, and courts, and resulted in the loss of personnel. By September 2000, the country had only 18 judges serving outside Freetown and 15 presiding magistrates, the latter of whom earned annual salaries of US$900.
• The country operates under a dual legal system consisting of the English legal system and an indigenous customary legal system. English law—which includes common law, equity, statutes of general application (generally applicable since 1 January 1880), imperial legislation, and local enactments—serves as the general law. Customary law applies to indigenous peoples in the provinces, but is declared null and void if it is incompatible with an English statute.
• Post-conflict security sector reform, including a British-led programme starting in 1998 and the Justice Sector Development Programme (JSDP), has focused on building the capacity of the police, armed forces, and the Office of National Security (ONS). However, the report notes that prisons have received little attention compared to the police and armed forces.
• Significant human rights violations persist within the criminal justice process. Suspects are frequently detained for periods exceeding the legal limit of 24 hours, and the judicial system is characterized by slow trials and 'inexplicable adjournments'.
• Sierra Leone's prisons are described as decrepit colonial relics that lack modern reform capabilities. They suffer from overcrowding and a lack of medical facilities, leading to the prevalence of communicable diseases such as cholera, malaria, and tuberculosis.
• The state has established the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) in 2004 and the Office of the Ombudsman (Public Complaints Commissioner) to monitor human rights. While the Ombudsman can investigate administrative actions by government departments, statutory corporations, or public service members, the office lacks the power to prosecute individuals for gross human rights violations.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2009). Sierra Leone: A country review of crime and criminal justice, 2008. https://issafrica.org/01-may-2009-monograph-no-160-sierra-leone.-a-country-review-of-crime-and-criminal-justice-2008-african-human-security-initiative/chapter-1-introduction

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Sierra Leone: A country review of crime and criminal justice, 2008. 2009. https://issafrica.org/01-may-2009-monograph-no-160-sierra-leone.-a-country-review-of-crime-and-criminal-justice-2008-african-human-security-initiative/chapter-1-introduction.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Sierra Leone: A country review of crime and criminal justice, 2008 |date=May 2009 |url=https://issafrica.org/01-may-2009-monograph-no-160-sierra-leone.-a-country-review-of-crime-and-criminal-justice-2008-african-human-security-initiative/chapter-1-introduction |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2009sierra, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Sierra Leone: A country review of crime and criminal justice, 2008}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = may, url = {https://issafrica.org/01-may-2009-monograph-no-160-sierra-leone.-a-country-review-of-crime-and-criminal-justice-2008-african-human-security-initiative/chapter-1-introduction}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }