Rwanda Launches Half-Way Homes to Prepare Prisoners for Re-Entry into Society

Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) has initiated plans to construct half-way homes for soon-to-be-released prisoners in order to provide them with the necessary skills to reintegrate into society. Half-way social reintegration centres will offer former inmates basic necessities while attempting to determine their individual problems for reintegration. The centres will provide vocational training and courses on entrepreneurship, conflict resolution, and management, as part of an effort by the Rwandan government to improve the justice sector. The first centre is expected to be completed by April 2024 in Rwamagana District, Eastern Province, costing approximately Rwf1 billion. The move is also part of wider plans aimed at increasing the use of non-custodial mechanisms for convicts and detainees. The justice sector hopes to make room for penalties like Global Positioning System (GPS) bracelets and community service/fines as substitutes for detention to reduce the number of people incarcerated.