Efforts to curb violence, ease crowding at prison
Newspaper cartoonists are having a field day making fun of the police and prison officers trying to deal with the numerous escapes, stabbings and even murders at the Hattieville Prison in recent months. But the situation is no laughing matter for the inmates or their families. Many of those incarcerated tell their relatives that they live in fear and claim it is easy for someone with a grudge against them to get a weapon, and use it. What is prompting the violent outbursts and what is being done about it? Tonight News Five gives you a behind-the-bars look at the prison and the living conditions there. The view from inside is not a pretty one, but things may be getting better.
Dickie Bradley, Minister in charge of Prisons
“I think we need to start off by saying that whoever designed this facility apparently did not consult, or bear in mind exactly what a prison is all about.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Despite any design flaws, one thing is clear to everyone who enters the Hattieville Correctional Facility: there are simply too many prisoners in too little space. The facility was constructed to hold five hundred prisoners; today there are close to one thousand inmates jammed in.
(Sound of inmates shouting in cell)
It’s no party behind these prison bars. As many as twelve prisoners are held in cells that were built to hold two. The stench of human waste, with only a single slop bucket per cell, is strong. Prisoners are allowed two baths per week, but some don’t take advantage of the opportunity, adding to the misery. Sleeping space is at a premium.
Jennifer Lovell, Acting Superintendent of Prisons
“We don’t have enough beds, not enough foams that they can sleep on, we have many sleeping in corners behind the ricket which is the gate to let someone into the building.”
The lack of resources to provide basic necessities as well as the constant crowding and cramped conditions can lead to desperation. Tensions often result in fights, deadly ones. The management of the Hattieville prison has been heavily criticized for its inability to keep inmates safe despite the fact that they are behind bar. There are constant allegations that some staff members help prisoners acquire drugs and even weapons.
Dickie Bradley
“These are people who are enormously creative, they are in here five, seven, ten twelve years. They will find a way to hide something.
And we don’t need to mention that there are some warders who are corrupt, who are here for money will bring in a knife, for money will bring in something here. There is even report that in fact there is an attempt by prisoners to buy firearms from persons who are corrupt and that is the reason why we have been gradually tightening the security.”
The tightening up includes employing a private security agency. KBH personnel search every person, and vehicle, entering the compound. People are electronically scanned and their belongings are checked. Vehicles are examined and dogs sniff for drugs. But as this reporter found out, although you have just successfully passed through the KBH checkpoint, once inside the compound you are once again searched. Not only was my station’s cellular phone taken away but I had the uncomfortable experience of being patted down by a total stranger. While security checkpoints may help curb the drug and weapons trafficking, the space problem is also being addressed. Cellblocks from minimum to maximum security are being expanded.
Dickie Bradley
“You will see on top of what we refer to as boot camp that construction is underway. You will be on top of that tango building we have already completed and we have one hundred and
seven removed from other areas and have been removed there. In a week or two’s time that building that is under construction will be completed and we will be able to remove prisoners from other buildings and take them there.”
(Prisoners digging the ground)
New punishment cells are under construction and prisoners are reminded that if they continue to give trouble they will be severely dealt with.
Dickie Bradley
“I should suspect you will see some harsh measures coming against prisoners…I’m getting that feel from the whole administration, that there are some prisoners back here, who have nothing to live for. If they “juck” down somebody, they will tell you “so what? Give me another ten more years that no mean nothing to me. I di spend twenty anyhow…I di spend thirty. I will never come out here.” If with that kind of attitude, they are searching for some other formula which will make an impact on a prisoner.”
There are plans to construct a new female prison and administration building. Both will be located outside the main prison compound. The existing buildings will then be used to hold inmates on remand or waiting to make bail. Bradley says at that point only prisoners and warders will be allowed inside the compound. No vehicles will be allowed to pass through the prison gates. The work is far from over, but Bradley promises that once everything is complete people will see a total tightening up at the Department of Corrections. The prisoners, and their families on the outside, hope things really do change, and change soon.
