In an effort to confront the persistent challenges of prison overcrowding and prolonged pre-trial detention in Liberia, key justice sector stakeholders convened a high-level roundtable meeting at the Ministry of Justice on October 15, 2025.
The meeting, held in the Attorney General’s Conference Room, brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Justice, representatives of the judiciary, and prosecutors from Montserrado, Margibi, Bodiwin, and RIA courts.
Presided over by Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Liberia, the session addressed urgent concerns surrounding the overcrowding crisis at major detention facilities, particularly in Montserrado, Bong, and Nimba counties.
The discussion yielded a series of concrete, short-term strategies aimed at reducing prison populations while long-term infrastructure projects are underway.
Key Measures Adopted
One of the major outcomes of the meeting was the decision to establish a 17-member Prison Overcrowding Monitoring Committee. This body will be tasked with conducting regular assessments of prison conditions and formulating actionable plans to ease congestion in Liberia’s correctional facilities.
In a move to improve case processing times, stakeholders agreed that weekly fast-track court sessions will be held directly at prison compounds. This initiative, spearheaded by Magistrates and City Solicitors/Prosecutors, is expected to significantly reduce case backlogs and the number of inmates held in pre-trial detention.
City Solicitors and Prosecutors were also directed to convene regular conferences within their offices to identify and act upon cases that can be expedited, dismissed, or resolved through alternative means. Additionally, monthly stakeholders’ meetings will be held to review progress on these interventions and monitor their impact on the justice system.
Assistant Minister for Correction and Rehabilitation, as well as representatives from the Monrovia Central Prison, joined the dialogue, underscoring the need for cross-sector collaboration to resolve the systemic challenges facing the country’s penal system.
Earlier Meeting Sets Stage for Reforms
The October 15 roundtable followed an earlier meeting on October 2, 2025, discussion between the Attorney General Office and the National Association of City Solicitors, during which internal capacity and welfare issues were addressed.
At that meeting, the Attorney General mandated the submission of educational credentials by all City Solicitors, with training to be offered through the Judiciary Training Institute.
While budget constraints were cited as the reason for the delay in placing City Solicitors on the government payroll this fiscal year, the Ministry pledged to pursue funding in the next budget cycle.
Additional commitments included the issuance of temporary identification cards, reconsideration of the Chief Justice’s mandate to remove City Solicitors from Magistrate Courts, and the development of a performance monitoring framework for prosecutors.
The Attorney General also introduced a law school scholarship program for eligible City Solicitors, with the expectation that recipients will serve the Ministry of Justice upon graduation.
Legal observers and civil society actors have long called for reform in Liberia’s justice system, particularly around the treatment of detainees and prolonged pre-trial incarceration.
These latest developments represent a significant step by the Ministry of Justice and its partners toward institutional reform and a more humane and effective criminal justice system.
Garpue K. Wonlue, Acting Secretary of the City Solicitors’ Association, described the meetings as “a productive and hopeful turning point for justice delivery in Liberia.”
With the formation of the monitoring committee and renewed collaboration between prosecutors, judges, and correctional officials, Liberia now sets a precedent for actionable change-balancing accountability, due process, and the dignity of those within its justice system.
