THE EDITOR, Sir:
RE: YOUR editorial on men-tally ill in prison it must be noted that St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre was the only male maximum reception institution without separation of the mentally ill. Since assuming office in 2003 the following have been implemented:
Automated pharmaceutical inventory; establishment of a medical unit and increased number of health professionals. There is an 'unfit to plea' project in partnership with Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights aimed at managed release of mentally-ill inmates (34 out of the initial 70 plus have been released to date).
The 60-bed Tower St. Adult Correctional Centre Hospital has been reconstructed to be recommissioned in May 2006; there is provision of uniforms to mentally-ill inmates commencing at St. Catherine ACC to identify and monitor acute, sub-acute and chronic cases. There are mental health training seminars and scheduled human rights seminars pre-sented by IJCHR, as well as regular institution visits by human rights groups, social workers, journalists, attorneys and a Board of Visitors.
ONGOING ASSISTANCE
A multiagency work group is to establish a forensic psychiatric facility; and there are Nova South Eastern University/Health Through Walls/American Corrections Association Bi-Annual Medical Missions (medical, dental, optical) targeting four institutions.
There is ongoing assistance from Food For the Poor/ Jamaica-Florida Nurses Assoc./ Global Fund/FAVACA with bedding, food, medication, medical equipment and disposables, also building materials (total donations and grants for calendar year was J$15 million); and there is a Johns Hopkins University Reproductive Health research project which involves testing of inmates for communicable diseases to develop effective treatment and testing
protocols.
I am, etc.,
MAJOR RICHARD
B. REESE
corrections@cwjamaica.com
5-7 King Street
Via Go-Jamaica
