Prison Superintendent retires

After twenty years as Superintendent of Prisons Bernard Adolphus is retiring. Adolphus told News Five he has submitted a letter to government for early retirement because although he has enjoyed his work he believes that it is time to move on. Adolphus said that during his career at the prison he most admired those offenders who cleaned up their act by getting off drugs and becoming decent members of the community. He says that he is also proud of the fact that young offenders are no longer put in the same area as hardcore criminals. Adolphus says that he wishes his successor well. Adolphus has long been an advocate of rehabilitation programs and activities for the inmates. When the prison was located in Belize City he was very vocal about the need for an expanded facility to ease overcrowding and a separate facility or section for young and first time offenders. Adolphus’ critics, however, have blamed him for the numerous escapes from both the Belize City and Hattieville Prisons, the most recent of which resulted in four dangerous criminals simply chipping away at a corroded lock. New locks were on site but had yet to be installed. A new Superintendent of Prisons has yet to be announced.