Prison population declining

Monday, December 10 2007

THE PRISON population in this country is declining because a restorative justice approach adapted by the Prisons Service is directly reducing the amount of repeat offenders, Prisons Commissioner John Rougier said yesterday.

“What we are beginning to see as a result of our restorative justice approach...is a change. Our records show that there has been a decrease in prison population in the convicted section (as opposed to remand). Four or five years ago the population was heading to 5,000. At this time, the population is between 3,400 to 3,500,” he said. This trend, he said was in face of an increase in remand (new) prisoners. “It means therefore, that as far as our convicted population is concerned it’s working.”

Rougier was speaking with Newsday at yesterday’s 31st Annual Children’s Christmas Party hosted by the Recreational Club of the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service (TTPS) at the TTPS Sports Club Complex, Arouca.

“There are a number of young people in the system now,” he said. “It suggests that when people are discharged from prisons, they are getting themselves involved in activities which keep them from re-offending.” Asked if a restorative, as opposed to a retributive, approach was the wrong one to adopt in the face of spiralling crime, Rougier firmly disagreed.

He noted that a restorative approach was in no way “soft;” as it involves a more “comprehensive disciplining” of the prisoner, by demanding community and family involvement in the process of accountability. Rougier noted that the approach was not inconsistent with the use of physical force against prisoners and that there were some who have rejected it.

He said there was a need to improve the physical conditions of prison, in addition to the adoption of the approach.

This ha to be the biggest piece of mudder contry that I ever come across in my life.

Now who would take time to write this piece of shit in the Newsday today.

It ha more crime in the country today than ever before in the history of T&T. So how come the prison population declining.

Simple you nigga mudder conts.

The fockin police involved in crime and they not ketching any fockin body. And even if they charge somebody, the fockin assholes so incompetent that the criminals getting off in court.

Obviously less people will be heading Golden Grove you fockin cacaholes!

Ask Chandraban Maharaj!