The Nigerian Correctional Service revealed that a total of 25,679 convicts have been sentenced to Non-Custodial Services in the Federal Capital Territory within five years.
Non-Custodial Services which was introduced in the NCoS Act, 2019, empowers NCoS to make regulations and guidelines, allows parole, probation, community service, restorative justice measures and any other non-custodial measure as a means to decongest the custodian centre, prison.
The non-custodial service directorate is present in the six Area Councils of the FCT to carry out any of the measures as decided by a competent court of jurisdiction.
The NCoS Spokesperson, FCT Command, Adamu Duza, noted that, 25,679 offenders have been convicted to non-custodial services from 2019 till date.
Duza stated that during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, over 21,000 offenders were supervised in FCT alone; which could have caused overcrowding and possible health hazards if sent to prison.
He, however, lamented over the poor cooperation with the non-custodial service, adding that, public stigmatizes the offenders not minding the reformatory processes they have passed through.
The Spokesperson, therefore, called on all government agencies, community leaders, and religious leaders, among others, to support the non-custodial service of the NCoS for the safety of Nigeria.