- Fewer than half (48%) of Sierra Leoneans say they feel “somewhat confident” or “very confident” that ordinary people can obtain justice in the courts. A slim majority (51%) express little or no such confidence (Figure 1).
- More than half (55%) of citizens think that if they had a case that needed to go to court, it would be resolved fairly. But only 37% expect that it would be resolved within a reasonable time period, and even fewer 25% think they could probably afford to pursue the case (Figure 2).
- More than nine out of 10 Sierra Leoneans (94%) say that at least “some” judges and magistrates are corrupt, including 36% who think “most” or “all” are involved in corruption (Figure 3).
- Survey respondents are five times more likely to see sentences given to the powerful as too lenient (49%, vs. 9% for sentences given to ordinary criminals). And while only 3% see penalties given to the powerful as too harsh, 13 times as many (41%) say the same about sentences for ordinary lawbreakers (Figure 4).
Three in four Sierra Leoneans say they probably couldn’t afford to pursue a case in court, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey.
Findings from the survey in March-April 2025 show that fewer than half of citizens are confident that ordinary people who are wronged can obtain justice in the courts.
While a slim majority think a court case would be resolved fairly, most doubt it would be resolved within a reasonable time period.
More than a third of respondents believe that most judges and magistrates are corrupt, and nearly half say penalties are too lenient for the powerful, reinforcing widespread perceptions of inequality before the law.
Sierra Leone’s justice system has long struggled with capacityconstraints, including limited funding, insufficient personnel, and limited infrastructure. This leaves most citizens, especially the poor and those in remote areas, unable to access formal courts. While successive governments have pursued justice sector reform strategies aimed at increasing fairness and access to justice, the latest survey findings suggest that challenges such as perceptions of corruption, trial delays, and inequality before the law continue to undermine public confidence in the system.