By RODRICK DESURI

AUKI

Police in Malaita Province are in support of an initiative called “community service justice” to counter the problem of overcrowding in prisons.

Malaita Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent Michael Ramosaea supports community service justice, saying it will help to ease the current overcrowded state of the correctional services in the country.

Community Service Justice is an initiative that the Commissioner of the Solomon Islands Correctional Services, Mactus Forau, is considering as an alternative that can ease the overcrowding of offenders at the correctional services in the country.

Superintendent Ramosaea expressed his support for the initiative during the commissioner’s visit to Auki, to meet with the court, police, and Auki correctional service officers in Malaita Province on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

He stressed that offenders found guilty of minor crimes could be sentenced to do community service under supervision.

“Those who are found guilty of petty offenses by the court must perform community work, such as tending to the gardens of elderly residents or weeding around the church building for one or two days.

“If the same person commits the same offense multiple times, then he may be remanded in prison,” he said.

Superintendent Ramosaea emphasized that community service justice will work well within the framework of community policing regulations and by-laws.

He stated that anyone found breaking the community rules will have to face a sentence of community service.  

“The same principles of community service justice should be applied in accordance with the by-laws. Anyone breaking the rules will not be given fines, instead, they will be required to perform community work in and around the community,” he said.

Superintendent Ramosaea added that he looks forward to the implementation of the initiative in Auki, Malaita Province.

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