Pokanis: Probe into abuse of leave continues

AN independent administrative investigation into the abuse of Leave of Absence (LOA) in the Correctional Service (CS) Institute has not been completed yet, Commissioner Stephen Pokanis says.
Pokanis told The National that once the investigations were complete, the report would be presented to the National Executive Council (NEC).
He said the CS was still waiting for the report and its recommendation.
“In the meantime, special consideration will be given to commanding officers to allow specific leave of absence for low-risk convicted detainees,” Pokanis said.
“These leave of absence will include; medical leave, legal leave, family leave where there is death in family which requires a detainee to visit the family, and leave for community service where detainees are engaged to work with town authorities to clean the towns, or, do maintenance work to public services facilities like hospital, schools and aid posts.”
Pokanis said that it was important for low risk convicted detainees to be actively involved in community service programmes, as this would help build a good relationship with all stakeholders to understand the rehabilitation system.
“It will also give confidence to detainees that they are being recognised and accepted by the community as reformed detainees,” he said.
“So commanding officers will be given approval for these special leaves.”
“Commanding officers chair the classification committees.
“They will have to stringently screen the requests from detainees, grant leave of absence, select reputable officers to escort detainees under LOA to attend to their specific requests and bring them back to the institution,” he said.