The Oyo State House of Assembly has passed for the 2nd reading, a bill to promote community service in the state.

The House which was presided over by the Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, unanimously deliberated that the bill be passed for 2nd reading as it features non-custodial sanctions and options in the administration of criminal justice, and also contributing to the decongesting of the various correctional centres in the state.

Other lawmakers including the Majority Leader, Hon Sanjo Adedoyin, the Minority Leader, Hon Asimiyu Alarape, Hon Isiaka Kazeem Tunde (Oyo East/West) and Hon Akeem Mustapha (Kajola) described the bill as reformative and one that will also ensure clean and healthy environment.

The Oyo State non-custodial sentencing bill, 2021 is to provide for plea bargaining, parole, probation, restorative justice, regulate non-custodial sentencing for offenders in certain cases in Oyo state and for other connected purposes therewith.

Under the bill, any person convicted of an offence may be sentenced to community service rather than undergoing imprisonment, while it also makes provision for the establishment of a Community Service Centre.

”Such community services provided for in the bill are Environmental sanitation including cutting grasses, washing drainages, cleaning the environment and washing public places.

Others include assisting in the production of agricultural produce, construction or mining and any other type of service which in the opinion of the Court would have a beneficial and reformative effects on the character of the convict”.

”Before passing a community service order, the court shall consider the circumstances, character, antecedents of the convict and other factors that may be brought to its attention by the Prosecutor”, the House said.

The Speaker stated rhat the house committee on judiciary will work diligently on the bill to ensure all grey areas are addressed while having a bill that will achieve the intended purpose.

“We need non-custodial sentence in Oyo state. Our correctional centres are all filled up. No new prisons are built despite the increase in the rates of crime,” the Speaker justified.

The Oyo State House of Assembly has passed for the 2nd reading, a bill to promote community service in the state.

The House which was presided over by the Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, unanimously deliberated that the bill be passed for 2nd reading as it features non-custodial sanctions and options in the administration of criminal justice, and also contributing to the decongesting of the various correctional centres in the state.

Other lawmakers including the Majority Leader, Hon Sanjo Adedoyin, the Minority Leader, Hon Asimiyu Alarape, Hon Isiaka Kazeem Tunde (Oyo East/West) and Hon Akeem Mustapha (Kajola) described the bill as reformative and one that will also ensure clean and healthy environment.

The Oyo State non-custodial sentencing bill, 2021 is to provide for plea bargaining, parole, probation, restorative justice, regulate non-custodial sentencing for offenders in certain cases in Oyo state and for other connected purposes therewith.

Under the bill, any person convicted of an offence may be sentenced to community service rather than undergoing imprisonment, while it also makes provision for the establishment of a Community Service Centre.

”Such community services provided for in the bill are Environmental sanitation including cutting grasses, washing drainages, cleaning the environment and washing public places.

Others include assisting in the production of agricultural produce, construction or mining and any other type of service which in the opinion of the Court would have a beneficial and reformative effects on the character of the convict”.

”Before passing a community service order, the court shall consider the circumstances, character, antecedents of the convict and other factors that may be brought to its attention by the Prosecutor”, the House said.

The Speaker stated rhat the house committee on judiciary will work diligently on the bill to ensure all grey areas are addressed while having a bill that will achieve the intended purpose.

“We need non-custodial sentence in Oyo state. Our correctional centres are all filled up. No new prisons are built despite the increase in the rates of crime,” the Speaker justified.