The Conditional Early Release Scheme at the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone

Abstract

It appears to be a general rule amongst international tribunals that prisoners do not have to serve the entirety of the prison term to which they have been sentenced; instead, once two-thirds of a custodial sentence has been served, prisoners are eligible for early release. This has led to accusations of decreased transparency, and of being out of step with the aims of international criminal law.^[1] It, however, provides prisoners the right to hope, which is particularly true for those sentenced to life imprisonment. The early release mechanism has some benefits for both the public and the prisoners. Firstly, the possibility of achieving early release could be an incentive for prisoners to behave well during the time of their punishment.^[2] Secondly, the mechanism is consistent with Article 10(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights^[3] regarding the reformation and social rehabilitation of prisoners. Rehabilitation is a significant factor by which the international courts grant early release.^[4] In this paper, the conditional early release scheme at the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone will be examined by referring to recent practices.

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[1] Jonathan H. Choi, “Early Release in International Criminal Law,” Yale Law Journal 123, (2014); 1784, accessed  August 19, 2019, https://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/ylj/vol123/iss6/4/.

[2] William A. Schabas, The International Criminal Court: A Commentary on the Rome Statute. 1st ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010); 1102.

[3] “The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights” adopted by the General Assembly of the UN on 19^th December 1966, accessed  August 19, 2019, https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20999/volume-999-I-14668-English.pdf.

Article 10(3): The penitentiary system shall comprise treatment of prisoners the essential aim of which shall be their reformation and social rehabilitation…

[4] Kelder, Jessica M. And Hola, Barbora and Wijk, Joris van, “Rehabilitation and Early Release of Perpetrators of International Crimes: A Case Study of the ICTY and ICTR”, International Criminal Law Review 14 (2014): 1177-1203; 1178, accessed August 19, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1163/15718123-01406008. 

Keywords

• Conditional Early Release,Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone,Rights of Prisoners,International Criminal Law,International Crimes

Sierra Leone için Rezidüel Özel Mahkeme'nde Koşullu Salıverme

Öz

Uluslararası mahkemelerde hükümlüler mahkum edildikleri hapis cezasının tamamını çekmelerindense mahkum oldukları cezanın üçte ikisini çekmeleri durumunda erken tahliye edilebilirler. Bu durum, şeffaflığın azalmasına neden olduğu ve uluslararası ceza hukukunun amaçlarının dışında olduğu gerekçeleri ile eleştirilmiştir.  Ancak koşullu salıverilme hakkı mahkumlara, özellikle ömür boyu hapis cezasına çarptırılanlar için umut hakkını sağlar. Erken tahliye mekanizmasının hem toplum hem de mahkumlar için bazı yararları vardır. İlk olarak, erken tahliye edilme olasılığı cezaevinde hükümlülerin iyi davranması için bir teşvik olabilir. İkinci olarak, mekanizma hükümlülerin reformu ve sosyal rehabilitasyonu ile ilgili Uluslararası Medeni ve Siyasi Haklar Sözleşmesi'nin 10 (3) maddesi ile tutarlıdır. Uluslararası mahkemeler tarafından sağlanan erken tahliye hakkı mahkumların rehabilitasyonu için önemli bir faktördür. Bu çalışmada, Sierra Leone için Rezidüel Özel Mahkemesi’nde koşullu salıverilme kurumu son uygulamalara atıfta bulunarak incelenecektir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Koşullu Salıverme,Sierra Leone için Rezidüel Özel Mahkeme,Hükümlülerin Hakları,Uluslararası Suçlar,Uluslararası Ceza Hukuku

References

1. BIBLIOGRAPHYBooks & ArticlesChoi, Jonathan H., ‘Early Release in International Criminal Law’ Yale Law Journal 123, (2014):1784-1828. https://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/ylj/vol123/iss6/4/
2. Doherty, Teresa Anne and Fisher, Shireen Avis. “Enforcement of sentences and oversight of prisoners convicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone”, Research Handbook on the International Penal System. Edited by Roisin Mulgrew and Denis Abels (Cheltenham, UK : Edward Elgar,2016). 355-383.
3. Kelder, Jessica M. And Hola, Barbora and Wijk, Joris van, ‘Rehabilitation and Early Release of Perpetrators of International Crimes: A Case Study of the ICTY and ICTR’, International Criminal Law Review 14 (2014): 1177-1203. https://doi.org/10.1163/15718123-01406008
4. Mujuzi, Jamil Ddamulira, “The Conditional Early Release of Offenders Transferred from the Special Court for Sierra Leone to Serve Their Sentences in Designated States: Some Observations and Recommendations”, African Yearbook on International Humanitarian Law, (2014); 154-170 http://repository.uwc.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10566/2343/Mujuzi_Conditional%20early%20release_2014.pdf?sequence=1
5. Schabas, William A. The International Criminal Court: A Commentary on the Rome Statute. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.
6. CasesThe RSCSL Prosecutor v. Allieu Kondewa, Decision of the President on Application for Conditional Early Release, 29.05.2017. http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/Decisions/CDF/860/RSCSL-04-14-ES-860.pdf
7. The RSCSL Prosecutor v. Eric Koi Senessie, Decision of the President on Application for Conditional Early Release, 04.07.2014. http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/Decisions/Contempt/2011-01/035/SCSL-11-01-ES-035.pdf
8. The RSCSL Prosecutor v. Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa, Decision of the President on Application for Conditional Early Release, 11.08.2014 . http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/Decisions/CDF/836/SCSL-04-14-ES-836.pdf

9. Press ReleasesThe RSCSL Press Release , ‘Moinina Fofana Admits Violating Terms of His Conditional Early Release Agreement, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 18.03.2016. http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/Press/2016/pressrelease-031816.pdf
10. The RSCSL Press Release, Moinina Fofana Granted Conditional Early Release, After Six More Months in Prison, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 11.08.2014. http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/Press/2014/pressrelease-081114.pdf
11. The RSCSL Press Release, Moinina Fofana Will Face Stricter Conditions for Violating Terms of His Conditional Early Release Agreement, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 25.04.2016 http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/Press/2016/pressrelease-042516.pdf
12. Statutes & RegulationsAgreement between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone on the Establishment of a Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone. http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/RSCSL%20Agreement%20and%20Statute.pdf
13. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20999/volume-999-I-14668-English.pdf accessed on 19th August 2019.
14. The Statute of the RSCSL http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/RSCSL%20Agreement%20and%20Statute.pdf accessed on 20.08.2019
15. The Practice Direction on the Conditional Early Release of Persons Convicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, 01.10.2013, http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/PRACTICE_DIRECTION_Conditional_Early_Release.pdf accessed on 20.08.2019
16. The Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the RSCSL. http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/RSCSL-Rules.pdf
17. Annex A to the Practice Direction, Form A(1) , Petition by Convicted Person to Establish Eligibility for Conditional Early Release http://www.rscsl.org/Documents/PRACTICE_DIRECTION_Conditional_Early_Release.
18. Annex C of the Practice Direction, Pro Forma Conditional Early Release Agreementhttp://www.rscsl.org/Documents/PRACTICE_DIRECTION_Conditional_Early_Release.
19. WebsitesResidual Special Court for Sierra Leone, “The Special Court for Sierra Leone Its History and Jurisprudence” (http://www.rscsl.org/ accessed on 20.08.2019
20. Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, “Residual Functions the Obligations of the Residual Special Court”http://www.rscsl.org/residual.html