Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
June Jarrett (left), deputy commissioner of corrections, Charmaine Gray (second left), representative of the Correctional Services Department, Corporal Robert Taylor (second right), and Commissioner of Corrections, Major Richard Reese, peruse the schedule of activities at the launch of Correctional Services Week at the department's Lockett Avenue, Kingston office, yesterday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS (prison warders) are often the forgotten links in the nation's criminal justice system. But as one of the features of an upcoming week of celebrations, the Correctional Services Department will be recognising 150 of its members for their outstanding and dedicated service.
Commissioner of Corrections, Major Richard Reese, made the disclosure during yesterday's launch of Correctional Services Week at the department's Lockett Avenue, Kingston, office.
"They will be recognised at a dinner which will be held on November 4, at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston," Major Reese said. The guest speaker will be Minister of National Security Peter Phillips.
Major Reese said that, while the department has made some significant achievements over the years, the problem of overcrowding in the penal system and the poor state of the infrastructure need to be addressed.
SAVED $123 MILLION
Among its greatest achievements for the financial year 2004-2005, was the department's ability to save $123 million on the recurrent budget in cost containment efforts.
"One of the things that we did was to take over the dietary programme in the adult and juvenile institutions, except Horizon Remand Centre," said Commissioner Reese.
Prior to that, the department was paying large sums to contracted caterers, to provide three meals a day for inmates.
The week-long activities are scheduled to begin on Sunday with a church service at the Boulevard Baptist Church on Washington Boulevard, St. Andrew. It continues on Tuesday with a series of sporting events at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.
Between Thursday and Saturday there will a number of planned events at the Carter Hall and Holy Cross Church on Half-Way Tree Road. The list of items includes an exhibition, health fair, cultural concert and a debate on the moot, 'Violence in schools is a contributing factor to Juvenile Delinquency.'
Public Defender Howard Hamilton is to moderate a panel discussion on the 'Alternative to Imprisonment'.
