The modern approach to imprisonment of those who are convicted criminals is one in which a prison term does not only serve penal purposes but is used for correctional purposes and training and equipping those incarcerated with the capacity to be reintegrated into society and earn living through decent work and at the same time make a positive contribution to society.
However, in today’s world with a rising crime rate in many societies the management and administration of prison services and systems are proving to be increasingly challenging even in the developed world which have huge resources.
A paper on US prisons by Sarah Lawrence, Glenn Dubin, Daniel P. Mears and Jeremy Travis, “The Practice and Promise of Prison” pertinently points out: “With increasing numbers of prisoners being released into society, the issue of prison has become a critical policy issue.”
They pointed out further that “the number of individuals in prison has been increasing over the past two decades. Nationally, the adult prison population more than tripled between 1978 and 1998, growing from 307,276 to 1,299,096 inmates. All seven states that we investigated have witnessed significant growth in the prison population over the past two decades. Minnesota, whose incarcerated population grew 185 percent between 1978 and 1998, experienced the least growth. Despite the dramatic growth in prison populations, six of the seven states fell below the national average (323 percent). Only Wisconsin’s adult prison population, which grew over 440 percent, was higher. Incarceration rates per 100,000 adults also have risen dramatically during the past two decades.”
In Guyana also, prison accommodation and conditions at prisons have also been engaging the attention of the relevant agencies and authorities with a view to improving the situation, particularly with respect to equipping prisoners with training and capacity to lead normal lives on their re-entry into society.
In this regard, it was heartening to note that a recent retreat held to review the management of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) saw participants deliberating on several broad areas, including correctional measures, prison rehabilitation programmes, welfare issues, custodial and non-custodial capacity constraints, recruitment and training, strategic and succession planning, prison enterprise development, establishment of an Agriculture Development Board, and the application of appropriate technology for the all-round development of the prison.
Home Affairs Minister expressed the view that as the country’s primary detention/correctional facility, there is need for greater technological application in the activities of the institution. This, he said, can be propelled to a higher level of efficiency, as is evident in other societies.
The minister challenged the GPS to consider moving closer to a correctional service, and to establish its own website to better serve the information needs of the wider society. The recruitment of additional and qualified human resources was highlighted as an area to be pursued more aggressively to match the growing prison population.
Ways and means of stamping out the smuggling/trafficking of prohibited items in the prison, such as cell phones, was discussed at length, and innovative counter measures considered for implementation.
A key area discussed was the operationalisation and status of trade shops at the respective prison locations as a means of providing skills training for prisoners, and as part of the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Programme.
These observations/views expressed by the minister are indeed pertinent and it would be most helpful if they are acted upon in a most expeditious manner.
One other area which need urgent redress is the issue of people found guilty of minor offences being sentenced to prison. The better option one would have thought is to sentence such persons to doing community service. Perhaps the Ministry of Home Affairs should enter into discussions with the Ministry of Legal Affairs and those in charge of the judicial system, as to this becoming more widely used.
Sending people to prison for stealing a mango seems ludicrous. Imprisonment in such cases could actually help make petty criminals become hardened criminals through association.
In fact, in the rural communities stealing mangoes is considered a part of growing up adventure of boys.
However, certainly with all the garbage problems and clogged up drains etc. sentencing people guilty of petty crimes to community work will pay off better in the longer term as it will benefit both the individual and communities. In this way the prison population could be reduced as well.