KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is asserting that inmates at the island’s correctional institutions are involved in hard labour in a number of projects.

In a news release from the Ministry of National Security, it said that these initiatives form part of measures in place to reduce recidivism rates and improve the correctional system. This is to be expanded with the recent launch of the pilot project for the electronic tagging of inmates.

The Ministry of National Security said it continues to engage inmates in hard labour with a view towards rehabilitation for reintegration. This falls within the broader strategy of the five-pillar crime reduction strategy; reducing reoffending, effective policing, situational prevention, social intervention, and swift and sure justice processes, announced by Minister Montague in his sectoral debate presentation in July, last year.       

Meanwhile, the DCS also described as unfounded, allegations made about its attrition rate. It said that in 2016, 21 correctional officers resigned, representing 0.9 per cent attrition based on resignations; while in 2015, 42 officers resigned, a 1.9 per cent attrition based on resignations.

The DCS said it recently graduated a batch of 150 from the Carl Rattray College in St Ann, and continues to recruit and train correctional officers in keeping with the needs of correctional facilities across the island.

Commissioner at the Department of Correctional Services, Ina Hunter, noted that inmates are continuously engaged in:

· Cooking their own meals in all institutions;

· Making uniforms for inmates and staff;

· Providing bread for most institutions (baking at St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre);

· Providing general sanitation of institutions (each institution has their sanitation and maintenance crews);

· Maintaining plumbing systems;

· Constructing sentry boxes;

· Repairing vehicles;

· Construction projects.

Inmates at the Tamarind Farm Facility refurbished a dormitory, carrying out all major aspects of the construction, which included masonry, plumbing and tiling under the supervision of correctional officers. Inmates also constructed the waiting area at the Port Maria Health Centre and Hunts Bay Police Station.

· Farming and animal rearing. Callaloo (grown by inmates) is served once weekly in institutions; eggs (chicken farm operated by inmates is also served once or twice weekly in institutions);

· Making items for annual exposition (carpentry, producing confectionaries and spices). These items were on display at the expo held at the Spanish Town Prison Oval in October.

· Bushing/maintaining  public spaces, roadways;

·  Painting /de-bushing schools, (Richmond Road Primary, Beecham Hill, (St Mary) St Michael’s (Kingston); and

·  Bushing/weeding cocoa fields for the Cocoa Board.