HRCSL TEAM MEMBER

Commissioner

Commissioner Dr. Gassan Abess holds a Doctorate Degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Washington State University, USA, a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Washington State University, USA, a Master's Degree in Sociology from the University of Toledo, USA, and Bachelor of Social Sciences Honors Degree in Sociology, and a Diploma in Adult Education from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.

Dr. Abess has taught in three American Universities. At John Carroll University, USA he was a Visiting Assistant Professor for one year and also as an Online Instructor from Sierra Leone for two academic years. At Washington State University for two and half years as a Teaching Assistant, and at the University of Toledo for one year as a Teaching Assistant. In Sierra Leone Dr. Abess has worked in two different colleges, the Eastern Polytechnic (EP) in Kenema for eight years, and the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET) for nine years where he served as Head of Department for Community Development Studies and Social Work, and rose to the rank of a Principal Lecturer and a Tenured Professor.

Dr. Abess also has a wealth of experience working with several NGOs and Civil Society Organizations promoting human rights. Dr. Abess has also served as consultant for several NGOs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) undertaking evaluation and baseline research work. At the "Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law" (CARL-SL), Dr. Abess was the "Human Rights, Criminal Justice and Research Advisor".

Commissioner Abess has a Media Background, and was one of the Founding Members of the Eastern Radio, Kenema and was a Member of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ).

Dr. Abess is also a member of the American Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) and the American Society of Criminology (ASC). He has attended several Local and International Conferences organized on Human Rights. He has several Peer Reviewed Publications: First amongst these is the "International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology" and the title of the journal article is "Transgender Inmates in Prisons: A Review of Applicable Statutes and Policies". The second was in the "Asian Journal of Criminology" and the title of the Journal Article is "Analyzing Citizens' reported levels of confidence in the police: a cross-national study of public attitudes toward the police in the United States and South Korea" while the third is titled "Police Integrity in China" published in the Journal: Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management. The fourth is titled "Victims Role in the Criminal Justice System: A Statutory Analysis of Victims' Rights in U.S". International Journal of Police Science and Management. Speaking Out: Officers Speaking about Police Misconduct in Ghana" The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles.

Commissioner Dr. Gassan Abess is a recipient of two prestigious awards; the University of Toledo Awards, and as a Fulbright Scholar from the Department of State. He is currently the Oversight Commissioner for the Directorate of Monitoring and Research.