Samuel Kallon 
By Alimatu Dimonekene MBE
Gender Justice Advocate | Founder, A Girl At A Time
On a warm morning at the Sierra Leone Correctional Center on King Harman Road, Freetown, something transformative happened. Senior correctional officers, frontline staff, and leadership—including Deputy Director General Madam Susan Baby Koker gathered not to review policies or implement stricter controls, but to learn a new way of seeing through a trauma-informed lens.
The session I delivered, titled “Trauma-Informed Awareness Training for Correctional Officers,” was arranged by the Acting Director of Human Resources, Mr. Foday Idrissa Kamara, affectionately known by his peers as “The Lion.” After the session, Mr. Kamara remarked, “The session was timely and educational. After your submission, colleagues were very much pleased and appreciated what they have learnt today.” His words reflect not only appreciation but also urgency.
Why Now?
Correctional Officers in Sierra Leone operate within one of the most under-resourced and high-pressurised environments in our justice system. They witness violence, manage unrest, and work daily with individuals carrying untold trauma. Yet, these officers often receive little acknowledgment for the emotional labour their roles demand.
The impact of that is burnout, emotional detachment, reactive discipline, and lost opportunities for rehabilitation.
A trauma-informed approach changes that narrative.
What Is a Trauma-Informed Approach?
It is not a soft option. It is a smart one. A trauma informed framework recognizes that many behaviors seen as “difficult” or “disrespectful” in correctional settings are actually responses to unresolved trauma. It emphasizes:
- Safety – creating emotionally secure environments
- Trust – consistency in how staff communicate and follow procedures
- Empowerment – allowing choice, voice, and agency wherever possible
- Cultural and gender sensitivity – understanding how identity impacts experiences of harm
During the session, we discussed the fight, flight, and freeze trauma responses and how they show up in inmates and sometimes, in officers themselves. Officers explored practical tools for emotional regulation, grounding, and peer support, all while learning that their well-being is central to the safety and performance of the entire system.
Two Stories That Opened Eyes
We examined two powerful case studies. In the first, a male inmate “Jacob” who consistently lashed out during headcounts was revealed to have a history of abuse. His aggressive behavior was not rebellion—it was survival.
In the second, Officer “Musa”, a respected staff member, broke down after months without leave. His burnout, unnoticed for so long, served as a warning of the costs of silence.
Beyond the Session: A Call to Action
Training like this must not be a one-off. From today lead officers will be able to conduct the trauma to other staff.
Officers agree that the session must be institutionalized, expanded, and resourced.
Director Madam Susan Baby Koker said “Correctional officers deserve mental health support, ongoing professional development, and recognition of the critical role they play in society is social reintegration and national peacebuilding.
As I told the officers on the day: You are not just correctional officers , you are councillors, social workers even lawyers —you are guardians of transformation.
Moreover I said it so important to celebrate the work that correctional officers do across the country/.
I personal would personally like to urge the government of HE Ret Brig Maada Bio to provide correctional officers with the necessary tools to protect not only others but themselves.
About the Author:
Alimatu Dimonekene MBE is a Sierra Leonean-British gender justice advocate, trauma educator, and survivor champion. She is the founder of A Girl At A Time and an internationally recognized speaker on violence prevention and trauma recovery.
