5 punishments to expect in Ghana if Cabinet approves community sentencing policy
Ghana’s Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has disclosed that government and for that matter Cabinet is considering a community sentence policy.
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According to the minister, the policy will ensure that persons who flout the laws of the land would be convicted to community sentence and service in some instances.
Community sentence is an alternative sentence in some countries that offers courts an option to punish convicts with community work instead of serving a prison term or capital punishment.
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When adopted, it will ensure that individuals who fall foul of the law will carry out some activities in the community as a form of punishment.
YEN.com.gh has a list of five alternative punishment apart from being jailed should Cabinet approve the policy.
1. Prohibition from doing some activities: The community sentencing policy could also be in the form of prohibition from particular activities. For instance, if the offender caused trouble at a shop or night club, he or she could be prohibited from going to those particular places by a court order.
2. Adherence to a curfew
Contrary to the belief by many that curfews are only imposed on communities and countries during crisis periods, a curfew can be imposed on an offender as well. This is similar to the house arrest, however, in this case, the offender is allowed to step out only during a specific time (or outside the curfew hours).
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3. Unpaid work
This is what many refer to as community service. The offender is made to pay back the community by undertaking some works. It could be in the form of helping to keep the community clean or even taking up other roles without pay.
4. Undertaking rehabilitation activity
This is usually for offenders who have suffered some form of addiction or are undergoing mental stress. With the offender’s consent, he or she could be made to undertake alcohol or a drug rehabilitation treatment.
5. Facing house arrest
The house arrest option, also known as home detention, is where authorities decide to confine the offender in his home or residence. This is usually done to prevent movements or any sort of travels by the offender.
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the National Identification Authority (NIA) is challenging the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to make available evidence to support their allegations against the Authority.
The NDC on Thursday alleged that the NIA is conspiring with the Electoral Commission to rig the 2020 polls for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
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Source: YEN.com.gh
