Correctional Service needs help

PAPUA New Guinea is among at least 115 countries in the world where the number of prisoners exceeds official prison capacity.
World Prison Brief has Philippines with the occupancy level of 463.6 per cent. PNG records 116.5 per cent.
Prison overcrowding is one of the key contributing factors to poor prison conditions around the world.
Sixteen prison systems hold more than double their capacity and in a further 32 countries there are occupancy rates of between 150 and 200 per cent.
Measured this way the highest rate of overcrowding in the Americas is 335 per cent (Haiti), in Africa 307 per cent (Benin), in Asia 259 per cent (Iran), in Oceania 215 per cent (French Polynesia) and in Europe 158 per cent (Serbia).
But overcrowding is not limited to countries whose overall prison population exceeds capacity. Particular prisons or sections of prisons can be overcrowded even if the prison system as a whole is not.
It is also arguably the biggest single problem facing prison systems and its consequences can at worst be life-threatening at best prevent prisons from fulfilling their proper function.
It also compromises the provision and effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes, educational and vocational training, and recreational activities.
Overcrowding, as well as related problems such as lack of privacy, can also cause or exacerbate mental health problems, and increase rates of violence, self-harm and suicide.
Prisons should be safe environments for all who live and work in them, in other words for prisoners and staff, and for visitors. No one in a prison should fear for his or her physical safety.
This week we have news that Buimo jail in Morobe is looking at transferring inmates to lockups in other centres due to overcrowding and threats of diseases outbreak.
This has been an ongoing problem at Buimo.
Jail commander Chief Superintendent Judy Tara says the situation with overcrowding is still here and the cell blocks can only hold up to 600 inmates at any one time.
Obviously, the overcrowding is also posing huge threats to outbreaks of diseases.
Overcrowding is a consequence of criminal justice policy not of rising crime rates and undermines the ability of prison systems to meet basic human needs, such as healthcare, food, and accommodation.
Reducing overcrowding requires an understanding of the extent of the problem and the reasons for which it has come about in a particular prison system.
The Correctional Service Department needs urgent help from 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.
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).
The buck has always been passed from one authority to another for the delay in hearing remandee cases – police files not ready so prosecution cannot proceed and most times the files goes to the bottom of the pile.
No one expects change and improvements; however, there must be a start now before the Correctional Service becomes overwhelmed by a crisis.