New women’s section inaugurated at prison
Between the escapes, whippings, stabbings and shootings there’s not a whole lot of good news that comes out of Hattieville Prison these days. But if you watch the news you’d barely know that along with eight hundred or so troublesome men there are a couple of dozen apparently well behaved women. Today they were rewarded with a new place to call home.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The new facility is far bigger than the old building that use to house the female population at the Hattieville prison. The former cellblock was inside the main prison’s compound and was a bit too accessible to the male population of the institution. This created a number of problems for both inmates and staff.
Harriet Anderson, Officer In Charge, Female Section
“The problems we use to experience at the old building was that the male inmates use to put marijuana, letters, in bags and throw them over the fence. We had to keep the women locked down. We couldn’t give them recreations because the men were at the fence and it was hard for us to get them from there. But being over here, it will be much easier for them.”
Presently there are twenty-two women serving time at Hattieville. The building, which is located outside of the main compound and has its own fence and security gate, will be able to hold up to thirty-six inmates. It has eighteen cells with two bunk beds in each room including a washbasin and flush toilet. Dickie Bradley, Minister Responsible For Prisons says the facility does more than address the problem of overcrowding.
Dickie Bradley, Minister Responsible For Prison
“By doing this, one first of all, we are putting the mothers and the women of the country in a separate institution away from the males. And also we will then be able to utilize the building that they were previously housed in, to we move those persons who have been offered bail, but are not able to meet bail, to get them out of the cells and into a separate building be themselves. So in fact we achieve two great objectives, by having the women over here, under the supervision of a matron, under the supervision of the female officers, we are able to now more concentrate on the rehabilitation of these women, because in fact they are recycling and coming back to prison.”
The activities will not only include recreational sports but the women will be prepared to become productive citizens once they have been released.
Harriet Anderson
“Some of the activities that will be offered are, they will be able to play softball, volleyball. We are getting some more sporting equipment, we are having volunteers from the Ministry of Human Development and they will be learning to make jams and cakes.”
“The building will be beneficial because it will reduce the crowdedness of the inmates, we will have a bigger area for sports, the women will be able to do their exercises without the disturbances of the men and we have enough space to do whatever we wish to do.”
The women, who range in age from seventeen to fifty-two are serving time for offenses including drug possession and robbery. They will be moving into their new quarters on Thursday. The inmates say they are glad for the change and they hope their time behind bars will be more comfortable.
Dorla Paulino, Inmate
“The sleeping quarters are more comfortable and have much more space. It’s eighteen cells and two inmates will be in a cell and it’s comfortable because the basin is there to wash your hands, the toilet is their to use and then you have shower where three inmates at a time can bathe.”
Marjorie Ellis, Inmate
“Every time we always get lock down because we are talking to the men and so when we go over there, it will be a distance between the ladies and the men. So I want to know what will be the reason why they are always locking us down now. Because to receive a letter from the men, is fourteen days lock down. I don’t know what we are going to do over there now, they say that we will get into some programmes and softball activities and things like that.”
Jacqueline Woods
“So you’re looking forward to the move?”
Marjorie Ellis
“Yes, I’m looking forward to that.”
In his address, Bradley said the new facility is only the beginning as they have plans to further strengthen security at the institution as well as improve Hattieville’s abominable conditions.
