[{"bbox": [84, 150, 1145, 437], "category": "Text", "text": "justice chain is only as strong as its weakest link. While this was also recognized in the design of PLEAD I, some key criminal justice institutions were not included as beneficiaries. The action seeks to change this and cover the justice chain from the entry of a case to its conclusion. The chain approach will, inter alia, guide the design of the action's intervention when it comes to reintegration of offenders (PACS and KPS) and investigation and prosecution of corruption offences (DCI, EACC and ODPP). In addition, more is needed in terms of coordination to ensure that the institutions work towards the same goals in a coherent manner. The action will thus emphasise enhancing the capacity of the NCAJ at the national level, inter alia, by ensuring that its secretariat becomes fully functional, and that CUC at the court station level are empowered to find local solutions to problems related to justice delivery. Due to the representative nature of CUC, they provide an entry point for successful implementation of new legislation and policies and are thus important for the overall success of the action."}, {"bbox": [84, 454, 1145, 597], "category": "Text", "text": "There are too many people in Kenya in prison (including pre-trial detention) which do not need to be there. This is in large part due to the underutilization of alternatives to imprisonment, but also the fact that petty offences have not been decriminalized and the design of the system to disfavour poor (many are kept in custody because they cannot raise bail or pay fines). The action will utilize the NCAJ engage in policy making in an effort to significantly decrease the prison population."}, {"bbox": [84, 613, 1145, 757], "category": "Text", "text": "As KPS and DCI will be beneficiary institutions of the action, measures aimed at rehabilitation while serving custodial sentences and early release programmes are included in its design. Combined with empowerment and aftercare programmes these should minimize recidivism which will in the long run greatly contribute to prison decongestion. It is vital that a gender and disability dimension are incorporated into the design and implementation of such programmes."}, {"bbox": [84, 773, 1145, 859], "category": "Text", "text": "The challenge of over-use of custodial sentences is also applicable to children. Accordingly, the action will promote the use of alternatives to children and youths. Avoiding custodial sentences is particularly important for young offenders as they can be disruptive and commence a trajectory towards further offending."}, {"bbox": [84, 875, 1145, 1190], "category": "Text", "text": "The action sees implementation of the national AJS Policy as an important factor in enhancing access to justice, reducing case backlog and prison congestion. At the same time, it is acknowledged – in line with the overarching aims of the action – that it must be implemented in a way that considers gender and protection of individuals in vulnerable situations. One of the underlying assumptions of the action is that increasing quality and efficiency in the criminal justice system requires the introduction of improved case management systems throughout the sector and solutions for efficient case flow across the system. Further efficiency gains can be obtained by greater automation of additional criminal justice processes – including the authentication of documents for bail and bond. The action will also integrate the use of technology as a cross-cutting commitment and will, inter alia, enhance the use of e-learning within the training programmes of the national partners. It is assumed that the increased uptake of technology following the COVID-19 pandemic will create momentum that can be used to accelerate the automation of criminal justice processes."}, {"bbox": [84, 1204, 1145, 1489], "category": "Text", "text": "It is recognized that one of the reasons why there has been a slow uptake of alternatives to imprisonment is that the public does not see them as appropriate responses to crime. The action will thus seek to sensitize all target groups of the distinct roles and services of the beneficiary institutions and convince frontline decision-makers and end-users of the viability of its interventions, including the use of technology and alternatives to imprisonment. In an effort to ensure sustainability and the ability of the beneficiary institutions to implement reforms the action will support the criminal justice institutions to undertake change management initiatives. Furthermore, in line with the approach under PLEAD I, the action will continue to emphasise the ownership of institutional change management processes and substantive reform. It will also emphasise the priorities of stakeholders during the conceptualisation and design of the different reform initiatives. This will enhance ownership and hence sustainability and ensure that the interventions are fit for purpose."}, {"bbox": [84, 1502, 1145, 1616], "category": "Text", "text": "The training of practitioners will be a vital factor in the implementation of the action. In line with the approach of strengthening the institutional ownership and sustainability, the focus will be on enhancing the capacity of the respective training institutions to deliver trainings, in tandem with developing training programmes which support the implementation of specific interventions. The use of technology in the delivery of the trainings will also allow"}, {"bbox": [1027, 1680, 1145, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 18 of 33"}]