A good prison complex is designed and planned to offer a suitable and conducive environment for prisoners. This is where prisoners are rehabilitated and released into society, for which we need a conducive environment. At present, it is doubtful whether the services and facilities available in the Sri Lankan prisons are sufficient to carry out a complete rehabilitation program for prisoners.
Most of our prisons are over-crowded. According to reports, in some instances, four to seven prisoners are housed in cells meant for one prisoner. The Government has understood the situation and taken initial steps to solve the problem, and it remains to be implemented.
It has been found that a third of the inmates are remand prisoners languishing in prisons until their cases are heard in courts. These facts point to the dire need for a more spacious prison complex with necessary facilities. The Bogambara prison complex is now closed and the inmates were transferred to a new prison complex.
The Magazine prison in Colombo too will be moved elsewhere along with the planned replacement of the Tangalle prison. Angunukolapelessa has been chosen as the best location for a new prisons complex.
Purpose
It’s time the authorities take a hard look at the prisons and the prison management system. What should be the purpose of a prison? Is it only to punish people? Should they serve as a deterrent to crime? Should we incarcerate people for minor offences, such as driving under the influence of liquor or shoplifting? Isn’t there a better alternative?
The prison is the sharp end of our justice system, and we must be clear about the purpose of the prison. We can identify three purposes.
First, protection of the public – the prison protects the public from dangerous and violent individuals. Second, punishment – the prison deprives offenders of their liberty and certain freedoms enjoyed by the rest of society and acts as a deterrent. It is not the only sanction available, but it is an important one. Third, rehabilitation – the prison provides offenders with the opportunity to reflect, and take responsibility for their crimes, and prepares them for a law-abiding life when they are released.
Rehabilitation
It is only by prioritising rehabilitation that we can reduce re-offending and, the number of future victims of crime. Yet, it is clear that our prisons don’t always achieve what they are expected to do.The reasons for this are varied, but the Government must ensure that prisons can fulfil the three purposes. We need to create prisons that are secure: prevent prisoners from getting out – and drugs, mobile phones and other contraband from getting in. It means creating prisons that are safe: with orderly and structured regimes, free from violence, intimidation and self-harm.
It means creating prisons that are decent: with clean premises and humane living conditions. Clearly, some of our prisons have fallen far below the standard.
We may need more prison officers but we have to be mindful how we deploy them. The reason for increased staff is to introduce a new ‘key worker’ model – with prison officers spending more time, one-to-one, with small groups of prisoners. Increasing the numbers of prison officers and deploying them in a more effective way would help create positive relationships between offenders and prison officers.
Drugs
We also need to deal with one of the biggest issues inside prisons – drugs. The problem of drugs entering and circulating in the prison system has become a challenge. While there have been low-level networks dealing in cigarettes or illegal contraband, the criminal networks and supply chains have recently got larger and more complex. New technology has empowered gangs to be more sophisticated and brazen about the way drugs are smuggled in. Prison officials need to take stern action against criminals, but at the same time, see the possibility of identifying the offenders who could be treated to come off drugs. Prison officials have a key role to identify and support them, and the Government should invest more on mental health awareness training for staff.
The most important purpose of the prison is rehabilitation. Reform experts believe rehabilitation starts with conformity with prison rules, a commitment to change and embracing opportunities that help offenders to leave the prison as law-abiding citizens. We have to make them the desirable choice that prisoners make. A mixture of positive incentives, support and sanctions can influence their behaviour and help change their lives for the better. In Sri Lanka, an offender’s experience in prison is too often one of detention and boredom, which leads to drug abuse and despondency, and in turn, leads to crime and despair.
So, we should make the prison a place of humanity, hope and aspiration and that prisoners know there is a route to a better life, through purposeful activity, education, skills and employment.
Incentives
Hence, we should reset and reinvigorate a system of incentives in our prisons so that the officials encourage prisoners who respect the rules and want to turn their lives around, while coming down harder on those who show no such intention. As an incentive, we could reinforce good behaviour by offering a prisoner additional time to see family members, e.g. by using technology such as Skype to allow contact.
Another example is giving an offender better prospects to secure a job after release by providing access to certain training and experience. Maybe, we can take a look at the availability and practice of ‘release on temporary licence’ as done in many countries.