FOOD FOR the Poor (FFP) will be paying fines today and tomorrow, amounting to more than $600,000, for 22 prisoners in order to let them spend Christmas with their families.
The 22 prisoners, who have all been incarcerated for non-violent offences, are scheduled for release from four of the island's prisons. Of this number, ten will be released from the Richmond Farm Adult Correctional Faci-lities in St. Mary today, while six will be sent home from the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Facilities tomorrow. Three are to be released from Tamarind Farm Correctional Facilities in Spanish Town, and another three from the Ft. Augusta Female Correctional Facilities at Port Henderson in Portmore.
OFFENCES COMMITTED
"The offences committed by these persons include larceny by trick, common assault, breach of Copyright Act, and debt," Sandra Ramsay, head of FFP's prison ministry, said yesterday.
"These offences usually attract fines ranging from $4,000 to $65,000," she added.
This follows the release of 18 prisoners earlier this year, when fines totalling $350,000 were paid. Those prisoners were given the opportunity to return home to spend Easter with their families. The FFP Prison Release Programme runs twice per year - Easter and Christmas.
Under the programme, which is in its second year, FFP fronts the money to free prisoners charged with non-violent crimes, and has so far assisted about 100 persons.
