Handling of Jails in Amhara Region: the Case of Adi-Arkay and Zarima Towns Police Stations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the handling of jails in Adi-Arkay and Zarima town’s Police Stations in accordance with the international and national human rights standards. This study used a qualitative study approach and obtain the desired information implemented snowball and purposeful sampling techniques. This study employed an in-depth-interview with 14 inmates, and key informant interviews with 2 police officers, 2 prosecutors, and 2 judges. The data were thematically analyzed. The main purpose of detention in jails is to provide for the safe, secure, and human confinement of inmates. Based on this, the jails at the Adi-Arkay and Zarima police stations host more than 974 inmates each year, as this study compiles more than 550 persons who were detained. However, the jails receive a large number of inmates each year, the finding of the study showed that the handling of detainees was problematic. According to the finding of the study, the jails at both police stations did not have adequate physical structures, they were not in a position to provide adequate services to inmates, such as food, water, shelter, toilets, and health services, and institutions their work-related with inmates were not have adequate legal documentation on how to handle inmates. As a result, the legal and human rights of inmates were violated. In addition, inmates were suffered from severe problems. The research has also discussion, conclusion, and implication of social work practice, research, and policy. Finally, the handling of inmates, especially in jails, required extensive work and institutional and policy reforms.