St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre - file photo
.png)
Nakinskie Robinson reports
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is pushing back at claims by inmates at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre about harsh conditions behind bars.
The DCS also sought to dismiss claims of brewing unrest among correctional officers, insisting that recent reports do not reflect reality.
In a letter addressed to human rights lobby group, Jamaicans for Justice, the inmates at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre alleged that they have been deprived of visitation rights by correctional officers.
They also claim correctional officers at the facility are on the verge of industrial action over years of old funds.
But the DCS says the claims are entirely unfounded and without merit.
It says, all standard procedures regarding inmate welfare and daily routines continue and are in full compliance with established correctional regulations, covering monthly visits and recreation time.
The DCS says all obligations outlined in the heads of agreement have been satisfied and all operations across all correctional facilities remain stable with no reports of disruption.
In their letter, the inmates also claimed that they were being deprived of the right to parole by overseeing officers who fail to make contact when prisoners become eligible.
So the DCS again distanced the facility from any wrongdoing, maintaining that the application process for parole involves several steps to assess the inmate's readiness for reintegration into society.
It said once eligible, the inmate or someone acting on their behalf must submit a formal application to the parole board with housing and supervision outlined.
The department maintained that officers have been proactive in engaging and assisting with the parole process and urged inmates to keep track of their parole eligibility.
comments powered by Disqus
All feeds
