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This report evaluates the state of juvenile justice in Sierra Leone as of 2008, focusing on the alignment of national laws and institutional practices with international standards such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It identifies significant gaps in legal definitions of childhood, a lack of specialized juvenile courts, and inadequate detention facilities, noting that children are frequently detained with adults or held arbitrarily due to systemic inefficiencies.

This report chapter examines the customary justice system in Sierra Leone, a dual legal structure where informal local courts provide the primary means of justice for most citizens, particularly in provinces. While generally viewed positively by users, the system suffers from severe institutional decay, lack of funding, and discriminatory practices against women and juveniles.