By Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
Peter Phillips
- File
THERE IS a current review in progress of the prison parole system to improve benefits to inmates while maintaining public safety, National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips told Parliament on Wednesday.
He noted that the Government had received reports that even when inmates become eligible for parole, their files are not brought forward so they can be considered.
PROCESS
"We will now stipulate that once an inmate becomes eligible, the file must automatically be forwarded to the Commissioner (of Corrections) who will check for completeness and then forward it to the (Parole) Board," Dr. Phillips said. He was making his contribution to the 2004/2005 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.
The Minister cautioned that the forwarding of the file to the Commissioner of Corrections does not guarantee an automatic right to parole, which will be left to the discretion of the Parole Board.
"The main advantage will be efficiency in processing with a direct impact on relieving overcrowding. However, public safety will not be compromised," Dr. Phillips stated.
He added that there will be a phased release strategy based on risk assessment, so that instead of leaving a maximum security institution into society, an inmate would go from a maximum security prison to medium, then low security detention, then possibly to a half-way house situation in preparation for release.
