THE prison service yesterday opened an information technology lab at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston – a move the department hopes will help the more than 1,600 inmates acquire skills and help with their rehabilitation.

The new lab was made possible through the work of two groups – Student and Staff Expressing Truth (SSET) Foundation and Destiny Productions Ltd – with the support of local sponsors.

When fully set up, the lab will have 26 desktop computers and will be used in the teaching of audio and video production as well as literacy programmes at the prison.

“Today marks the beginning of something good not just for the inmates but for staff,” said June Jarrett, the deputy commissioner of custodial services.

“This new lab will be put to maximum use and will benefit the inmates tremendously,” she added.

Major Richard Reese, the commissioner of corrections, said the IT lab was a milestone in the centre’s history and part of his department’s strategy to reduce the population of the prison.

“In the past we had over 1,800 inmates here and now it is down to about 1,629,” Reese said. “The department is committed to reducing that number through various strategies,” the prison boss added.

“Information technology and music are areas of great interest (for inmates), so this lab will serve as part of the rehabilitation process and help us to place more inmates at Tamarind Farm and South Camp (two low-risk prisons),” Reese said.

Meanwhile, director of the SSET Foundation, Kevin Wallen, told the Observer that instructors would be teaching inmates about the “finer points in music”, while seeking to improve their literacy levels. He said that similar initiatives had already been undertaken at the South Camp and Fort Augusta correctional centres.

Keynote speaker at the function, American boxing legend Dr Reuben “Hurricane” Carter, told the inmates in attendance to use the opportunity afforded them at the IT lab to better equip themselves to face the world.

“The day a person is released from prison is the day his sentence begins. What you do today will determine your tomorrow,” he said. “Use this place to help yourselves become better citizens,” said Carter.

Carter, 68, who was imprisoned for almost two decades and was the subject of an award-winning film, also related his life experiences to the inmates and how prison changed his life.

“You got to have an aim in life and dare to dream but at the same time you should respect the authorities set over you,” he said.

While in Jamaica, Carter will deliver motivational talks at three of the island’s adult correctional facilities.