Today in the Senate I updated all on the Correctional Services Technical Working Group and the bedridden Inmates.
We are building towards a new Jamaica and. better Jamaica and this is one of those vital steps in making that happen.
We recently traveled to Phoenix Arizona and Washington DC to participate in a study tour for the ICT organized by the United States Embassy of Jamaica in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State and the Arizona State University, to look at the opportunities for capacity building in Jamaica ICT with a focus on Cyber Security – so much to share in that regard in the coming days.
Thank you to the team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Ambassador Marks for the usual hospitality.
Some 2,300 cellular phones destined for criminals serving time behind bars were seized by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) over the past 12 months.
This was revealed by the Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Matthew Samuda, during his contribution to 2021/22 State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday.
Samuda described the persistent problem of persons attempting to smuggle the contraband item into the nation’s prisons as both a challenge and a security risk.
The issue of contraband, more specifically the use of cellular phones in the commissioning of crimes and the operation of criminal gangs from behind bars, though not new, represents a continued threat to national security.
He cited that the 2,300 phones, representing more than 190 attempts each month to sneak the items into the prisons, were detected through renewed focus.
The minister listed the following as measures being taken to address the problem:
-Amendment of the legislative framework to criminalise the possession, use, and smuggling of electronic devices.
-Procurement of appropriate technology to monitor entrance ways, search and scan for devices and disrupt electronic communiqué.
-Adjustment of training manuals and retraining of correctional officers.
-Infrastructural changes at points of entry.
Meanwhile, Samuda noted that the prisons remain safe as the DCS had just one person escaping its facilities in the last three years.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Matthew Samuda says the new Offender Management Policy and amendments to the Corrections Act will herald a new beginning for corrections in Jamaica.
The Offender Management Policy, which is being spearheaded by the Offender Management, Rehabilitation Policy and Parole Board Administration Branch in the ministry, has been drafted and is expected to be completed by year-end.
During his State of the Nation presentation in the Upper House earlier today, Samuda said a second draft of the policy is currently under review.
This document will establish a blueprint for increasing the support received by all offenders from entry into the correctional facility, throughout the rehabilitation process and during reintegration. The policy will focus less on punitive measures and instead support Successful Offender Outcomes.
His presentation outlined several plans to advance the Department of Correctional Service (DCS), tackle recidivism and facilitate the seamless reintegration of inmates into society.
The ministry is also leading the effort to revamp the legislative framework that governs the administration of corrections in Jamaica, specifically through the amendments to the Corrections Act, 1985 and Correctional Institutional (Adult Correctional Centre) Rule, 1991.
According to Samuda, the legislation will provide significant support for the changes which are being proposed by the Offender Management Policy.