Prison Reforms
The condition of our penal system is in a very deplorable state. Dispite many promises by both JLP and PNP
administrations very little has been done to aleviate the problems. Both of our major prisons, built nearly three
hundred year ago, house inmates in very terrible conditions. They are over-crowded, and lack basic sleeping and
bathroom facilities for the inmates. Our lockups are in similar conditions and unlike the prisons where the prisoners
are allowed outdoors breaks, the accused persons housed at our lockups are kept confined at all times. Some
accused persons spend months in our lockups under these conditions. We need schools, hospitals, roads and we
also need more remand centres and a new prison. At all times when the discussion of the need for a new prison
and remand centres arises, the argument that this money could be spent on schools hospitals, roads etc always
comes up. JAP is committed to the building of a new prison and remand centres to properly housed the penal
population and will agressively seek funding for it in a similar way to which we seek funding for our hospitals
schools and roads etc.
JAP will seek to have remand centres located at stagetic locations all acrosss the island to housed persons who
have been remanded by the court. This will be more secure and will free up hundreds of police personnel who
are involved in guarding these prisoners at police stations.. Person will be housed at our police station only after
they have been arrested and before they appear in the court.
With the expected decrease in crimes due to initiatives taken and proposed changes in the sentencing
guidelines, it is expected that there will be a large decrease in the prison population. Sexual offenders will be
housed separately and be given the therapy needed with the hope that they will not offend again after they are
released.. Procedures will also be put in place to ensure that those persons sentenced to do hard labour will do
hard labour. Programmes to rehabilitate our prisoners will be continued and expanded as much as it is possible.
An external entity will be put in place to oversea and ensure the proper treatment of all persons held in our penal
system. Officials from this entity will visit these penal location and make certain that proper procedures are being
followed. Prisoners will be allowed more visits and be allowed to interact more closely with their children. They will
also be allowed to make limited phone calls to family and friends unless barred by the court or prison officials for
security reasons.
Legislation will be look at with a view of releasing some first time, non-violent offender and others on
compassionate grounds. Suitable conditions will be attached to each of those released.
reform parole system- victims be allowed to testify. victims and witnesses notified if and when person is granted
parole
The condition of our penal system is in a very deplorable state. Dispite many promises by both JLP and PNP
administrations very little has been done to aleviate the problems. Both of our major prisons, built nearly three
hundred year ago, house inmates in very terrible conditions. They are over-crowded, and lack basic sleeping and
bathroom facilities for the inmates. Our lockups are in similar conditions and unlike the prisons where the prisoners
are allowed outdoors breaks, the accused persons housed at our lockups are kept confined at all times. Some
accused persons spend months in our lockups under these conditions. We need schools, hospitals, roads and we
also need more remand centres and a new prison. At all times when the discussion of the need for a new prison
and remand centres arises, the argument that this money could be spent on schools hospitals, roads etc always
comes up. JAP is committed to the building of a new prison and remand centres to properly housed the penal
population and will agressively seek funding for it in a similar way to which we seek funding for our hospitals
schools and roads etc.
JAP will seek to have remand centres located at stagetic locations all acrosss the island to housed persons who
have been remanded by the court. This will be more secure and will free up hundreds of police personnel who
are involved in guarding these prisoners at police stations.. Person will be housed at our police station only after
they have been arrested and before they appear in the court.
With the expected decrease in crimes due to initiatives taken and proposed changes in the sentencing
guidelines, it is expected that there will be a large decrease in the prison population. Sexual offenders will be
housed separately and be given the therapy needed with the hope that they will not offend again after they are
released.. Procedures will also be put in place to ensure that those persons sentenced to do hard labour will do
hard labour. Programmes to rehabilitate our prisoners will be continued and expanded as much as it is possible.
An external entity will be put in place to oversea and ensure the proper treatment of all persons held in our penal
system. Officials from this entity will visit these penal location and make certain that proper procedures are being
followed. Prisoners will be allowed more visits and be allowed to interact more closely with their children. They will
also be allowed to make limited phone calls to family and friends unless barred by the court or prison officials for
security reasons.
Legislation will be look at with a view of releasing some first time, non-violent offender and others on
compassionate grounds. Suitable conditions will be attached to each of those released.
reform parole system- victims be allowed to testify. victims and witnesses notified if and when person is granted
parole
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J A P
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THE JAMAICA ACTION PARTY