By Binta Jaiteh
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concerns over overcrowding, poor sanitation and prolonged pre-trial detention at the Mile 2 Central Prison and Janjanbureh Prison, according to its 2026 monitoring report.
The report followed the Commission’s 2025 monitoring mission to prisons and selected police stations across the country, which identified persistent challenges within the detention system.
The NHRC said its assessment revealed serious shortcomings, including severe overcrowding, deteriorating infrastructure, sanitation challenges and weak record-keeping systems.
The Commission also highlighted inadequate access to essential services such as healthcare, legal aid and social support, particularly at the juvenile wing of Jeshwang Prison.
According to the report, prison officers continue to face difficult working conditions due to staff shortages, limited training opportunities, inadequate protective equipment, low remuneration, and insufficient accommodation and welfare support.
The NHRC recommended that the government and the Ministry of Interior prioritise the renovation and expansion of prison facilities and police stations to address overcrowding and ensure compliance with international minimum standards.
The Commission further called for increased budgetary allocations for detention facilities, healthcare services and rehabilitation programmes.
It also urged authorities to improve cell conditions by ensuring adequate ventilation, establish child and gender-sensitive documentation systems across regions, and guarantee timely access to bail and legal representation for detainees.
The report noted that conditions within the prison system remain below acceptable human rights standards, with overcrowding, understaffing, limited specialised healthcare, inadequate rehabilitation programmes, and poor living and working conditions undermining detainee welfare and institutional effectiveness.
The NHRC concluded by outlining priority recommendations and a follow-up monitoring framework aimed at supporting government institutions and partners in implementing reforms to strengthen human rights protection and accountability within the country’s detention system.