The H. M. NorthwardPrison Report Women and Fairbanks Prison Part 9 of a Series
In May of this year,Sir David Ramsbotham, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons,submitted to His Excellency the Governor, Mr Peter Smith, a reportcontaining his opinions on progress made in the Cayman Islandsprison conditions since a two-day riot in 1999.
Cayman Net News has beenpublishing a series of articles on this report, of which thisis the last installment. We will continue with a three-part serieson the prison as it is today.
In this final extractof the series Sir David addresses recommendations for the ChiefSecretary, Hon. James Ryan, and directors of Northward and Fairbanksprisons.
Recommendations
To the Chief Secretary
Sir David suggested to the Chief Secretarythat government should determine the number of places in custodythat the criminal justice system on Cayman needs based on informedresearch forecasting, and should provide the necessary fundingfor additional places.
"There should be no increases in thenumber of prisoners held at the Northward above the accepted capacityof 214 until planned arrangements have been implemented not onlyfor additional sleeping accommodations but also for central regimeactivities."
He said an independent authority shouldbe set up working to establish criteria, in order to certify thenumber of prisoners able to be held at Northward and Fairbanksprisons. This function could, after training, be carried out bya constituted Board of visitors.
Good Order
He said a Board of Visitors should be set up modelled on thatwhich works very effectively in the United Kingdom.
He added that the West Bay lock-up shouldnot be used to hold young people. Instead a secure facility foryoung people should be developed on the Fairbanks' site, to bethe responsibility of the Director of Northward but under thedirect management of the prison Deputy Director, who should combinethis responsibility with running the women's prison.
Staffing Training
He wants to see a competition held for accelerated promotion toAssistant Director and Director for non-United Kingdom staffswith successful candidates undertaking an intensive training programmeat home and abroad to develop the required competencies. He saidpart of such a training programme should include an attachmentto the Prison Inspectorate.
To the Director, Northwardprison
Induction
He said prison officers should be trained to lead the inductionprogramme.
Included in subjects covered in the inductionshould be: the basic rules of the prison; building relationshipswith staff and other prisoners; security classification; copingwith custody; exercise; fire precautions and evacuation procedures;grievance procedures; hygiene facilities; and employment.
He wants to see all residential staff havingprofessional involvement in sentence planning and review arrangementsfor individual prisoners.
Religious Activities
"Facilities should be provided for non- Christian religiousactivities.
The chaplain should have a list of all receptions.
The chaplain should see all new reception within 48 hours.
The chaplain should be provided with an up-to-date list of prisonersby chosen religious denomination.
Voicemail arrangements should be provided for the chaplaincy."
Education
He said significant improvements should be made to punctualityof classes to ensure that prisoners arrive from all the unitson time and the Education Co-ordinator should monitor this closelyand report the results to the responsible director.
He called for an annual educational needsanalysis of the present prisoner population and asked that thereis an examination of the need for additional teaching staff toensure adequate provision for both Northward and Fairbanks prisons.
"Additional classroom space shouldbe provided and there should be more opportunities for drama andmusic.
"Educational needs and objectives shouldbe built into sentence plans. The Educational Coordinator shouldbe required to produce a three-year development plan for his department."
Good Order
He said it should be a key objective for senior management toensure that basic rules are clear to staff and prisoners, disseminatedwidely and consistently enforced and an effective anti-bullyingpolicy should be introduced to which all people in the establishment;staff and prisoners should be committed.
"The anti-bullying strategy shouldreflect the different sections of the population, in particularthe need for the different approach to anti-bullying where youngprisoners are concerned.
"There should be a complete reviewof systems governing the movement of prisoners within the establishmentand this should include role checks at the beginning, middle andend of the working day.
"Senior managers should take time outto decide on a 'whole management team approach' to achieving consistencyin systems and routines that contribute to the proper controlof prisoners. This work should include specialist, such as educationstaff," he said.
Catering
"Whatever possible dinning arrangementsshould be introduced which enable prisoners to take their foodat the table. This particularly applies to young prisoners butis also relevant to the needs of adults."
Young Prisoners
Sir David wants the regime for young people to include: sentenceplanning based on a rigorous assessment of each young person'sneeds, including education, skilled training, physical educationand the prevention of re-offending; an education programme thatis challenging and rewarding; a PE programme that is similarlychallenging and rewarding; skill training and preparation forpost-release employment; opportunities for reparation; a personalofficer scheme that provides individual attention from a namedmember of staff for each young person; and help with maintainingfamily contacts in preparation for return to the community.
He said that additional teaching and classroomprovision should be made to address the needs of young peopleand an experienced and competent PE should be recruited on a two-yearcontract from the United Kingdom.
"Training should be provided in theskills young people need to gain employment on release.
"A personal officer scheme should beintroduced for young prisoners.
"Offending behaviour work geared toyoung people should be developed at Northward."
Management
He suggested that a third of staff from the United Kingdom shouldbe retained for a further four years; a third should not havetheir contacts renewed; a third should be retained for a furthertwo years, although one or two individuals should be replacedwith new staff hired from the United Kingdom. The number of principalofficer posts should be reduced, including the existing post atFairbanks and the confusion between the ranks of senior officerand lead officer should be resolved by abolishing one of thoseranks.
Staff Training
He said senior managers should introduce effective systems acrossthe establishment to control prisoners and an urgent programmeof staff training should be embarked upon that concentrates onthe day to day tasks that faced all staff; for example, roll checks,rub down searching, security information reporting, personal officerwork, policing the wings, recording information etc.
To the Director, Fairbanksprison
Residential Units
He wants to see bedside boxes replaced with proper furniture andwomen prisoners allowed perfume in glass bottles and spray cans.
Reception
Sir David said a safe for valuable property should be held atFairbanks and all records on women prisoners should also be heldthere.
Healthcare
There should be an urgent audit of the equipment essential forthe nurse to be able to practice primary care properly and anyshortfall should be made up.
Education
He said the large area recently converted into a number of officesand staff room should be used for classroom or workshop space,Fairbanks should have its own permanent teaching staff, thereshould be clear starting and finishing times for education classesand punctuality should be ensured.
Catering
He called for provision of an additional oven, a large fryer anindustrial toaster and additional pots and pans in the kitchen.And, Fairbanks should control its own budget for food and itemsshould be brought which meet the need of women.
Security
The razor wire needs strengthening in places, Sir David said.
Good Order and
Discipline
"Women prisoners should be allowed exercise in the freshair before breakfast and much better use should be made of theoutside areas.
"There should be properly constitutedcommunity meetings once or twice a week, working to clear termsof reference to deal with issues between women and openly andthereby help relieve the inevitable frustrations of being coopedup in a fairly small area.
"More exercise equipment should beprovided and this should be placed in an outside area," HM'sChief Inspector of Prisons said.
This completes Sir DavidRamsbotham's report. It is hoped that Cayman Net News will beable to present a follow-up report with some of the good thingswhich have been put in place at the prison.