Longer Prison Sentence Will Reduce Crime

Left to die - HIV-positive inmates say they are neglected in prison

SOME men who are serving time in maximum-security prisons and who have tested positive for HIV/AIDS say that their medical and nutritional needs are being neglected by what they feel is an uncaring, inhumane prison system.

"I am living with HIV, you understand, but I don't want to die inside here," was the impassioned plea from an inmate to the Sunday Observer from behind the massive masonry that constitutes the walls of the maximum-security St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre in Spanish Town, the country's old capital.

"I did not bring this disease on myself and now I have to live wid it. I don't want to die as yet," he said, with more than a hint of desperation resonating in his soft voice.

The inmate, whom we will call 'X', begged that the newspaper keep his identity a secret for fear of reprisals from other inmates and warders alike. Some of his fellow HIV/AIDS inmates reached out a few weeks ago to the Sunday Observer because of what they claim is neglect of their medical needs as persons living in prison with HIV/AIDS.

"We need urgent help, medication, food, fruits, being able to get a clean facility to do our time.

"Chink, roaches are also an issue, we have no proper bedding and we are exposed to disease and germs.

"Would you believe the HIV prisoners have to deal with that, while healthy, strong prisoner have mattress or sponge?

"Recently, they banned sheet and pillow from coming in here," said 'X', who claimed he had been sleeping on a towel on the floor of his cell for years.

He told the Sunday Observer that he was originally convicted in 2000 of manslaughter, for which he was sentenced to eight years behind bars.

He was fortunate and a well-behaved prisoner and got released early; after only five years, but was re-convicted on a charge of receiving stolen goods. He is also awaiting trial on the charge of larceny of a motor vehicle.

Not long after he entered the prison system, he said he was raped at the Tower Street correctional facility.

"I was in a cell with a whole heap a man and I was sleeping on the floor. I wake up with a sharp knife at my throat and hear a man say 'if you move or make nuh noise, a kill yuh'."

'X', who is not yet 40 years old, said he was raped by that man and others who crowded around him in the cell. He could not say why those not involved in the rape did nothing to help him.

Prison Reform, Is This The Right Way Though?

The prison system needs to change and not the sentencing structure.   Ken Clarke proposes that the courts must use alternative sentencing when they are able to do so.  However what are the alternatives.  Community service orders, used so that criminals can pay their debt to society and see that they need to change their ways and contribute in a positive way towards their community.  For such a measure to be effective the criminal needs to realise that their actions were wrong they must also have the capability to show remorse.  Criminals do not have such a high moral code to understand the concept of remorse let alone express it.

In such circumstances the aims of a prison sentence must be looked at.  Prison should in theory serve as a place of punishment, retribution and rehabilitation.  In the present form it is non of these.  We have heard and seen that prisons are akin to a low grade bed and breakfast.  Inmates have TV’s, pool tables, dart boards, ping pong tables a choice of DVD’s to watch.  Is this really supposed to be punishment.  Prison needs to mean prison, not a community centre where members can exchange ideas and plans and guide the youth as to how to commit the perfect crime.

Living in prison should mean living in the harshest environment imaginable.  There should be non of the luxuries mentions above in place of them give them copies of the most boring books to read.  If they need physical exercise let them loose on the prison playground and if they attack each other place them to solitary confinement with two square meals a day and nothing else.  This may not rehabilitate them but it would be more of a deterrent and more of a punishment then prison is in its current form.  This may seem a drastic correction to the current standards but this is what is needed.  It will not have and immediate effect but one people realise the punishment is not worth committing the crime they may not turn towards the life of crime.   Ken Clarke ’s proposals of reducing prison sentences is ill thought and many will see it as letting criminals walk free.  The Daily Mail for one will have a field day if such a policy is adopted by this government and it will be one of the rare occasion when the publication will have a valid point.

Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare, Empowering People

Congressional Record, V. 145, Pt. 14, August 4, 1999 to August 5, 1999

The Philanthropist, and prison and reformatory gazette. [Continued as] The Philanthropist, and social science gazette

National Assessment Of Structured Sentencing

Presentations in everyday life, strategies for effective speaking