In a significant step toward improving public understanding of the Liberian criminal justice system, Rescue Alternatives Liberia (RAL) has received widespread praise from law enforcement, judicial officers, corrections personnel, and local residents for its recent awareness campaign highlighting the distinct roles of police, magistrates, and prison authorities.
During a community-policing forum held in Sanniquellie, Nimba County on Friday August 29, 2025, RAL brought together stakeholders from all sectors of the justice system to foster collaboration, transparency, and accountability. The initiative aimed to clarify how the criminal justice process functions in Liberia from arrest and charge to imprisonment and rehabilitation.
“This training helped us see how our roles connect and why we must work in partnership with the courts and prison authorities. It also helped clarify misconceptions people in the community have about our work,” Lamine Mendin, Nimba County Police Commander.
Magistrate Anthony Doyah of the Sanniquellie Magisterial Court said “There’s often a public perception that we are not available or that we operate outside the law. Rescue Alternatives Liberia has provided the opportunity for us to break down these barriers by facilitating open discussions between us and the communities we serve.”
Charles Mahn, Prison Superintendent of the Sanniquellie Central Prison said “People don’t understand our role in rehabilitation. With the help of RAL, we’ve been able to share our roles in the judicial sector.”
Community members also expressed appreciation. Many noted that before the RAL session, they lacked a basic understanding of what happens after someone is arrested. “I used to think the police had the final say in someone’s guilt,” said, a youth leader from one of the communities in Sanniquellie. “Now I understand that there’s a legal process involving the courts and correctional services. It has changed how we see justice.”
Rescue Alternatives Liberia, a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting human rights and justice reform, said the initiative is part of its broader effort to build public trust and reduce systemic abuses within the criminal justice system.
“We believe that when people know their rights and understand the roles of each actor in the justice chain, accountability becomes more possible,” said Sam Nimely, National Program Coordinator of RAL. “This program is not just about information, it’s about building bridges between citizens and the institutions that serve them.”
As calls for justice sector reform continue across the country, stakeholders agree that initiative like this one is essential to creating a more transparent, fair, and inclusive justice system in Liberia.
