A Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, March 4, approved the parole of 1,847 prisoners, allowing them to leave prison before completing their full sentences under specific legal conditions.
Parole enables inmates to serve the remainder of their sentences in the community under supervision. Unlike a pardon or amnesty, which fully forgives a crime, parole does not erase the sentence; an individual remains legally bound to complete the remainder of the term while outside prison.
The system is designed to support the gradual reintegration of inmates into society while maintaining legal supervision and safeguards to ensure public safety.
Under the law governing criminal procedure, eligibility for parole depends on both the length of the sentence and the portion already served. Inmates sentenced to five years or less may be considered after completing at least one quarter of their sentence.
Those serving more than five years become eligible only after completing at least one-third of their term; prisoners serving life sentences may apply for parole after serving a minimum of 15 years.
However, meeting these thresholds does not automatically guarantee release. Authorities also assess factors such as the inmate’s behaviour in prison, progress in rehabilitation programmes, and overall compliance with correctional regulations.
An inmate seeking parole submits a request to the Minister of Justice through the Commissioner General of the Rwanda Correctional Service. For prisoners held in military correctional facilities, the application is first channelled through the Minister of Defence before it reaches the Minister of Justice.
Once granted parole, the beneficiary must comply with several conditions. Within 15 days of the publication of the ministerial order approving their release, the individual must report to the Prosecutor at the primary level of their place of residence and provide details of their village, cell, sector, and district.
They are also required to appear before the prosecutor once every month on a date determined by the prosecution office.
Parolees must also seek the Minister of Justice’s authorisation to travel outside the country. In cases where circumstances prevent them from reporting in person, they may notify the prosecutor through available communication technology and explain the reason for their absence.
The conditions attached to parole remain in force until the remainder of the original prison sentence is served. Depending on the beneficiary’s conduct, some conditions may later be modified or lifted upon request to the Minister of Justice.
Parole can also be revoked. Upon the Public Prosecution’s request, the Minister of Justice may cancel the conditional release if the beneficiary commits another offence, engages in serious misconduct, or fails to comply with the conditions attached to their release.
Hillary Emmanuel Sengabo, the Spokesperson of the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), said parole should be understood as a discretionary measure intended to encourage rehabilitation and good conduct among inmates.
“It is an exercise organised every year, but it is not a right, it is a request. It also encourages good behaviour among those who remain in prison. Sometimes, individuals who were initially on the list are later removed for misconduct. So when they finally see their peers being released, it motivates them to behave well so that they may be considered in the future,” he said.
If parole is revoked, the individual must return to prison to serve the remaining part of the original sentence. In urgent situations, the prosecution may order the arrest of a parolee before the formal revocation process is completed.
In contrast, a presidential pardon, granted by the Head of State, is an act of clemency that forgives all or part of a sentence. Unlike parole, it reduces or removes the punishment, meaning the individual is no longer required to serve the remaining time in prison.
The law also provides for suspension of the execution of penalties, where a court decides that a sentence will not be carried out immediately. In such cases, the convicted person remains free unless they commit another offence or fail to meet the conditions set by the court, which can trigger the enforcement of the original sentence.
Meanwhile, amnesty is a broader legal measure adopted by law, usually applicable to a group rather than individuals. It effectively wipes away the legal consequences of certain offences, meaning those covered are released from punishment and the offence is treated as though it had not occurred.
Legal experts say the purpose of parole and other conditional release mechanisms goes beyond simply reducing the prison population.
Jean Paul Ibambe, a lawyer, explained that research increasingly shows imprisonment alone does not necessarily reduce crime or prevent reoffending, which is why justice systems are adopting more flexible approaches that combine punishment with rehabilitation.
“While punishment is necessary, the goal should not simply be to inflict suffering but to help offenders reform so that when they return to society, they can live responsibly,” Ibambe said.
He noted that legal reforms in Rwanda have also adjusted the portion of a sentence that must be served before an inmate becomes eligible to apply for conditional release, depending on the length of the sentence.
“For sentences of five years or less, an inmate may apply for conditional release after serving one quarter of the sentence, while those serving more than five years become eligible after completing one third. In the case of life imprisonment, a prisoner may apply after serving fifteen years,” he explained.
Ibambe added that eligibility alone does not guarantee release, as authorities closely examine inmates’ behaviour and progress while in prison.
“The central purpose of imprisonment is rehabilitation. Authorities assess whether the person has demonstrated genuine remorse, positive conduct, and a willingness to reintegrate into society,” he said.
According to Ibambe, conditional release can also play an important social role by helping families rebuild and supporting reconciliation within communities.
“When sentences are adjusted, or conditional release is granted, families can reunite earlier, and individuals have a better chance to rebuild their lives. In many cases, it also creates space for reconciliation with victims and reduces the psychological harm prolonged incarceration may cause,” Ibambe said.
