THE Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has welcomed President David Granger’s decision to grant non-violent female prisoners a presidential pardon, and has recommended that women who are found guilty of crimes should be placed in a ‘half-way house’ where they can undergo rehabilitation to regain their self-esteem.A statement the GHRA issued on Friday noted that the presidential pardon is recognition that incarceration imposes on women injustices in ways that do not apply to men.

“The GHRA has for many years held the position that rather than prison, the overwhelming number of women found guilty of crimes require a place safe from the men who are complicating their lives. A half-way house approach is needed, where women can undergo forms of rehabilitation to restore self-esteem and learn problem-solving techniques –- solving problems badly being a major cause of why they got into trouble in the first place.”

The association is of the view that women have no place in prison, since approximately ninety per cent are in prison for three offences: petty theft, drug trafficking, and murder – all of which are related to disordered relationships with men.

“Female drug traffickers carry the can -– so to speak — for the male king-pins, or are charged jointly with men for drugs found in homes; they steal to maintain children neglected by child-fathers, and kill in retaliating against men who are persistently violent. None of these women are a danger to society -– the fundamental reason for incarceration.”

According to the GHRA, a cursory reflection on the general issue of ‘women in prison’ quickly demonstrates that incarceration is generally unnecessary, expensive, unfair, and fruitless.

The association further noted that, in light of the present situation of prisons being overcrowded, presidential pardons on a more regular basis would be a welcome development, particularly given the judicial and magisterial sloth with respect to remand prisoners getting their cases tried, and the ponderous procedures of the Parole Board.

The GHRA pointed to a recent study — done by the Australian Centre for Evidence-based Sentencing — which alluded to the high percentage of women in prison who had suffered from sexual and violent abuse in their childhood.

President Granger has defended his decision to pardon prisoners by noting that the action is not reckless. He said persons who have been involved in crimes of violence, such as manslaughter, will not be eligible for presidential pardon.

“…and we are looking at persons who might have been convicted for short periods…,” he explained.

Already, 71 prisoners (male and female) have been granted presidential pardons under the APNU+AFC Administration.

It was explained that those who have been, and will be, pardoned are offenders who had been sentenced for non-violent offences or minor misdemeanours that do not involve trafficking in persons or trafficking in narcotics.