In a significant move to address systemic justice issues, the Haitian government has initiated a pioneering program aimed at reducing prolonged pretrial detention and alleviating severe prison overcrowding. On January 18, 2026, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security launched the “Mobile Initiative for Reducing Prison Overcrowding and Prolonged Pretrial Detention” pilot project.
The inaugural session took place at the Port-au-Prince Court of First Instance under the supervision of Dean Attorney Bernard Saint-Vil. The court reviewed the cases of twenty individuals who had been incarcerated for several years without trial for minor offenses, invoking the Habeas Corpus Act to secure their release.
All twenty detainees—including Wisnel Saint Fleur, Roosevelt D’Haïti, Dienix Georges, and seventeen others—were granted habeas corpus petitions and are scheduled for immediate release. The proceedings were attended by Chief Commissioner Patterson Dorval and Deputy Government Commissioner Choubert Baptiste, representing the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé emphasized the government’s stance, stating: “Prolonged pretrial detention constitutes a serious violation of human dignity and the normal functioning of the justice system. The State can no longer tolerate this abuse. This initiative reflects our commitment to upholding the law in an orderly, just, and human rights-based manner.”
The initiative comes in response to alarming statistics showing approximately 80% of Haiti’s prison population currently awaits trial without conviction. Developed by the Ministry of Justice, the project is implemented through a collaboration between the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights and the Mobile Institute for Democratic Education, with financial backing from the United Nations Development Programme in Haiti.
The five-month pilot program will expand beyond Port-au-Prince to include the jurisdictions of Jacmel and Les Cayes, representing a comprehensive approach to addressing one of Haiti’s most pressing judicial challenges.