HEAD OF the Correctional Services Department, Major Richard Reece, has reported that a significant number of cellular phones have been confisticated at the St. Catherine District Prison, following the death of an inmate at the institution on January 15.
Investigations have revealed that the slain inmate, Norris Clarke of Wilton Gardens, was stabbed and killed after a deal with another inmate over the use of a cellular phone ended sour.
It is alleged that the friends and relatives of inmates at the institution, have been making telephone calls to the inmates, providing them with the numbers on cellular phone cards. This enables the inmates to secure call credit, and they in turn sell calls to other inmates at the institution.
The phone racket came to the attention of the authorities, who conducted a search of the prison with correctional officers.
"They are very effective and we will be intensifying the search," said Major Reece.
The prison boss also said he would be probing how the cellular phones get into the hands of inmates, and seek to plug those loopholes.
"Early next month we will be starting a risk assessment programme, with a pilot project at the St. Catherine district prison," said Commissioner Reece.
He said the programme would later extend to the Tower Street and Fort Augusta correctional centres.
