African Innovations in Pre-trial Justice Jean Redpath 2015 1 © Dullah Omar Institute, 2015 This publication was made possible with the financial assistance of the Open Society Foundations. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Dullah Omar Institute and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the Open Society Foundations. Copyright in this article is vested with the Dullah Omar Institute, University of Western Cape. No part of this article may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission, in writing, of the Dullah Omar Institute. Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative (CSPRI) c/o Dullah Omar Institute University of the Western Cape Private Bag X17 7535 SOUTH AFRICA www.cspri.org.za The aim of CSPRI is to improve the human rights of people deprived of their liberty through research-based advocacy and collaborative efforts with civil society structures. The key areas that CSPRI examines are developing and strengthening the capacity of civil society and civilian institutions related to corrections; promoting improved prison governance; promoting the greater use of non-custodial sentencing as a mechanism for reducing overcrowding in prisons; and reducing the rate of recidivism through improved reintegration programmes. CSPRI supports these objectives by undertaking independent critical research; raising awareness of decision makers and the public; disseminating information and capacity building. REPORT PREPARED BY JEAN REDPATH FOR PROMOTING PRE-TRIAL JUSTICE IN AFRICA (PPJA), A PROJECT OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY PRISON REFORM INITIATIVE (CSPRI) OF THE DULLAH OMAR INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE 1 AFRICAN INNOVATIONS IN PRE-TRIAL JUSTICE Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Methodology........................................................................................................................................... 6 Malawi .................................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Early access to legal assistance in Malawi ............................................................................................... 6 Problem Statement ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Innovative Solution ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Lessons Learnt .............................................................................................................................................. 12 2. Diversion of adults from the formal justice system in Malawi................................................................ 13 Problem Statement ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Innovative solution ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Lessons Learnt .............................................................................................................................................. 20 Zambia .................................................................................................................................................. 20 3. A ‘Triage’ Model of Legal Assistance in Zambia ..................................................................................... 21 Problem statement ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Innovative solution ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Lessons Learnt .............................................................................................................................................. 25 4. Maximising paralegal impact through networking in Zambia ................................................................. 25 Problem statement ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Innovative solution ....................................................................................................................................... 26 Lessons learnt ............................................................................................................................................... 28 Kenya .................................................................................................................................................... 29 5. Pre-trial detainee rehabilitation and re-integration in Kenya ................................................................. 29 Problem statement ....................................................................................................................................... 29 Innovative solution ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Lessons learnt ............................................................................................................................................... 32 Liberia ................................................................................................................................................... 33 6. Tackling systemic weaknesses in Liberia ............................................................................................... 33 Problem statement ....................................................................................................................................... 33 (b) Innovative solution ............................................................................................................................ 34 Lessons learnt ............................................................................................................................................... 38 Mozambique ......................................................................................................................................... 39 7. Monitoring, Representing, Advocating and Litigating ............................................................................ 39 Problem statement ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Innovative solution ....................................................................................................................................... 40 Lessons Learnt .............................................................................................................................................. 43 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 43 2 AFRICAN INNOVATIONS IN PRE-TRIAL JUSTICE Executive Summary This review seeks to showcase innovative interventions to reduce pre-trial detention in African countries, so that they may be adapted for use in other low and lower-middle income countries. The majority of pre-trial interventions in African have tended to focus on providing access to paralegal legal advice and assistance to persons already held in pre-trial detention in prisons. The Paralegal Advisory Service Institute (PASI) of Malawi is the archetypal example of an intervention in which paralegal lay workers with specific training provide legal advice and practical assistance to detainees in prisons. PASI’s model operates on the premise that paralegals are less expensive than lawyers, yet as good as lawyers, because of their highly specific training on pre-trial issues. The PASI-type intervention reaches those most in need of assistance – persons held in pre- trial detention in prisons – and frequently has immediate and profound impact on individuals and their families’ lives through securing their release from frequently illegal, arbitrary or unduly lengthy detention. Adaption of the PASI model is however possible. In this review two interventions from Malawi are considered which arise from adaptions of the original PASI model. Both of these aim to prevent prison admissions to pre-trial detention, rather than to target those already in prison. One such adapted intervention from PASI itself seeks to provide early access to legal assistance in police stations and courts, preferably before a court has ordered that a detainee be remanded awaiting trial. The impact of the project includes the sensitisation of police officials to the rights of detainees and to other pathways to release of detainees before trial. The second Malawi intervention uses paralegals to facilitate diversion processes. Diversion processes in developed countries were originally designed for use with children, to redirect the resolution of disputes away from the criminal justice process. While diversion of children from the trial process is a relatively common intervention, diversion of adults is less so. The model being piloted in Malawi by CCJP is innovative in leveraging the influence and authority of traditional leaders in implementing an