OFFICIALS OF the Department of Correctional Service (DCS) have asked the police to help them find an inmate, Andrew Peart, who has been missing since he was granted a weekend pass to leave the South Camp Rehabilitation Centre between February 9 and 11.According to the DCS, Peart, who was one of two inmates serving life sentences for murder and who went missing on February 11, isn't eligible for parole until the year 2013.
Peart, who was convicted in 1988, had been sentenced to death and was committed to the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre. His sentence was later commuted to life and after spending over 12 years at St Catherine, he was transferred to the South Camp Rehabilitation Centre. The other inmate, Easton McEckron, who was a participant in the DCS work rehabilitation programme and who had failed to return to the centre at the stipulated 6:00 p.m. on Monday, returned to the centre later that night. He was also serving life for murder and is not eligible for parole until 2006.
Acting Commissioner of Corrections Earl Fearon could not be reached for comment but a press release issued by the department's publicist said the decision to grant weekend passes in 1995, was for prisoners on the final leg of their sentence to get a chance to be re-introduced to their communities before their release. They are allowed out to visit family for three-day periods. Under the work release programme, an inmate is allowed to work out of the prison lockup for up to 40 hour weeks on their own. The programme, which has been in place at the Centre since 2000, was approved by the Ministry of National Security and Justice.
Inmates who apply for work release are chosen based on good behaviour, a community report by their probation officers, a risk assessment, and the availability of suitable jobs. They are sometimes allowed out unescorted.
Yesterday, Opposition spokesman on National Security Derrick Smith said that there have been continuous calls for an investigation into the management of the programme in Jamaica, based on frequent reports that some inmates were given preferential treatment with the passes and work permits even though they were not entitled.
Last December Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips ordered a report from then head of the Correctional Services, Lt. Colonel John Prescod, on the escape of a prisoner in the prison's rehabilitation programme.
Minister Phillips said he was 'deeply disappointed' at the escape and instructed Lt. Prescod to suspend all activities that could result in inmates who have been convicted for violent crimes being out in the public, 'further endangering the people's safety'.
At that time, the Constant Spring police were investigating the escape of a prisoner, Michael Brown, from a house in Kingston 8 where he was doing plumbing work under the prison's rehabilitation programme. Mr Brown was sentenced to life for a non-capital murder and was an inmate at the Tower Street Rehabilitation Centre. At least two other similar cases had been reported earlier last year.
