The Malawi Prisons Service is preparing to launch a pilot programme for community corrections in four districts to address severe facility overcrowding, according to Nyasa Times. With national prisons currently housing up to 18,000 inmates against a designed capacity of 9,000, the pilot will allow individuals convicted of minor offences to serve non-custodial sentences in their communities. Clement Kainja, the Prisons Service commissioner for human resources and administration, stated that 100 community corrections officers are currently undergoing a two-month training in Blantyre to oversee the new system. The programme is being implemented under the Prisons Act 2025, which was designed to reserve prison space primarily for serious offenders.
In other law enforcement news, former Inspector General of Police Rodney Jose passed away on Monday following a short illness at ABC Private Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi Cables Online reports. National Police spokesperson Gladys Chiwaula officially confirmed the death. Jose dedicated 36 years to the Malawi Police Service, serving as its top commander from April 2018 until reaching the mandatory retirement age in August 2019.