Correctional Service needs help

The National Editorial

WHILE police are doing an excellent job in removing troublemakers off the streets and sending them to jail, the support at the other end is not enough.
Most end up waiting for years because either court files have not been prepared or there is a delay in hearing of their cases.
Last Friday, 47 prisoners at Buimo prison in Morobe dashed for freedom of which 35 were on remand awaiting their court cases and 12 convicted prisoners.
Eleven were shot dead, one recaptured and 35 are still on the run.
Buimo has a track record of six prison breaks over the last five years.
The highest number of deaths recorded was in 2017 in which 17 inmates were killed.
Most of those who dashed for freedom were detainees or what some term as ‘alleged offenders’.
Detainees are simply awaiting trial by courts and each has as good as half a chance to be freed at the end of their trial.
They are presumed innocent of any offence for which the person is remanded; and the detention is not imposed as punishment of the remandee.
Sometimes alleged offenders on remand are held in custody before and during their trial (on criminal charges) by order of a court.
The amount of time remand prisoners spend in custody can vary widely, depending largely on the time it takes to prepare evidence for the trial.
If the remandee is eventually convicted, the time spent remanded in custody may count towards the sentence served.
Generally, remandees will be held in special remand facilities and will have fewer restrictions placed on them than convicted prisoners.
An alleged offender is remanded in custody by a court if they:

  • HAVE not applied for bail;
  • HAVE been refused bail;
  • CANNOT meet bail or pro- vide a surey; or,
  • ARE unable or unwilling to meet the conditions set out in the bail bond.

The agony of waiting for their day in court for some in PNG prisons has led to frustration and might we add, it’s injustice to those who are innocent.
Holding them for long periods is like sentencing them without trial.
Whatever little hope left for the remandee goes out the window when days turn into weeks, months and years.
And when they escape, they get slapped with another charge, escaping from lawful custody and this time, there is evidence.
The buck has always been passed from one authority to another for the delay in hearing remandee cases.
The hold-up to how far and fast their case is scheduled for hearing falls on the process line involving police (investigations and prosecuting), prosecutors (who should be ensuring the cases are heard as soon as possible) and judges or magistrates (for not acting tougher on this).
At the same time, the Correctional Service needs urgent help from the Government through adequate annual funding for its planned programmes for expansion and improvement.
It would also help to separate low risk inmates, remandees included, away from the major prison camps so they could serve their terms in district stations while being used in practical community service.
No one expects change and improvements; however, there must be a start now before the Correctional Service becomes overwhelmed by a crisis.