By Phillimon Backson
Nearly 100 community corrections officers are undergoing a two-month orientation programme in Blantyre to equip them with skills to supervise offenders serving non-custodial sentences within their communities.
Malawi Prison Service spokesperson Steve Charles Meke said the officers, who are non-uniformed civilian personnel, are being prepared to manage offenders serving sentences outside prison.
He said the non-custodial sentences include community service, probation, public works and parole, allowing eligible offenders to serve their sentences within the community rather than being confined in prison.
Meke said the orientation programme commenced in September 2026 and is expected to strengthen the supervision and management of offenders serving such sentences.
He said the officers will primarily be deployed to districts without prison facilities, including Salima, Machinga, Phalombe and Mchinji, among others.
Meke said the deployment is expected to expand access to correctional services in communities where the absence of prison facilities otherwise make the supervision of non-custodial sentences more challenging.
