(Trinidad Express) Conjugal visits for convicted prisoners, as well as mandatory testing for HIV and AIDS, are privileges to be afforded under the new Prisons Rules, which are to be tabled in Parliament shortly.
Justice Minister Herbert Volney, speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Prime Minister’s office, St Clair, gave a summary of the “Prison Rules 2012” and the “Prison Amendment” bills, which he said are to be debated “soon” in Parliament, which is expected to resume next week.
He said the legislation would move away from retributive justice to restorative justice and would lend support to an offender’s re-entry into society, reducing recidivism and promoting the rehabilitation of prisoners. The current prison rules, which have existed since 1943, are anachronistic, and new rules which focus more on the prisoners and their management and treatment were necessary, he said.
The new rules establish requirements of clothing, food and sleeping accommodation that conform, where possible, to United Nations and international standards, Volney said. The rules also make provision for “adequate medical services that will cater to prisoners with special needs and conditions”.
Volney said the new rules would support the human dignity of prisoners. The new system would include “a system of privileges for the different classes of prisoners, including a points-based system for prisoners to earn remission or part-remission of their sentence”.
It will also include “a detailed system of communication and visits, which would allow prisoners to communicate with their family, friends and attorneys, including the use of telephone and video visits, as well as conjugal and private family visits for convicted prisoners who meet eligibility criteria,” Volney stated.
He added that the use of force against prisoners would be regulated in the new rules, along with the types of offences against prison discipline that can be brought against a prisoner and the manner in which proceedings against him are to be conducted. The rules would also address the manner in which security and control of prisoners are to be undertaken, including the use of restraints, searches and mandatory drug testing.
Volney said there would be provision of prenatal and post-natal care to all pregnant prisoners. And the rules would set out the manner in which work, earnings, education and vocation programmes are to be provided for the prisoners.
