A total of 1,132 individuals have been sentenced to community service since April 2023 when a Presidential Order determining the modalities for the execution of the penalty was issued, as one of the measures for alleviating prison congestion.

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For the past couple of years, the government has been seeking ways of making the justice system more restorative than punitive, and as part of this, officials have put in place measures to increase the use of non-custodial penalties for convicts and detainees.

In 2023, the Criminal Justice Policy was launched by the justice ministry, to guide the establishment of laws that create space for things like electronic ankle monitors as an alternative to detention, as well as mechanisms like community service or fines for certain offences.

For community service in particular, the Presidential Order issued in April 2023 outlined how the penalty would be implemented by Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) in collaboration with district authorities. The penalty applies to petty crimes.

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In an interview with The New Times, Anastase Nabahire, the Director General for Justice Sector Coordination at the Ministry of Justice, said the number of convicts sentenced to community service shows the justice sector’s understanding of the new policies intended to support the rehabilitation of offenders without incarceration.

He stressed the need for more awareness and training on the policy and related laws, highlighting that many people are yet to grasp Rwanda’s transition from a repressive to a restorative justice system.

In addition to community service, the justice sector plans to introduce electronic bracelets as a non-custodial detention measure, complementing existing methods like conditional release (parole).

Implementation of community service

During community service implementation, district authorities compile a list of public works to be undertaken and submit it to RCS. This list is subject to periodic review.

Organisations seeking to employ individuals undergoing community service submit written applications to RCS, and upon approval, a contract is signed with the Commissioner General of RCS or a delegate. Funds generated from community service penalties are deposited into the Public Treasury.

RCS compiles a list of individuals sentenced to community service, and the district authority notifies them of the reporting date to RCS for work assignments. Failure to report within 30 days prompts police tracking and reporting back to RCS.

Placement of individuals considers public interest, alignment with government programmes, and the intellectual and physical capacity of the person and the employing organisation. The person sentenced to community service works five days a week in a camp or three days if living at home, with daily work lasting five hours.