BVI considers ankle monitoring bracelets to manage offenders

The following is a media release from the Ministry of Social Development dated September 27, 2016.

The Social Development Department has partnered with Comprehensive Security Solutions Incorporated to develop an Electronic Monitoring Pilot Programme in the British Virgin Islands.

The Electronic Monitoring Pilot Programme will include the use of an ankle monitoring bracelet that will allow enhanced supervision and monitoring of offenders. This pilot programme will play an integral part in a national crime reduction strategy, and offer significant cost saving benefits to the Government of the Virgin Islands as compared to the cost of incarceration. In addition, it will offer adequate and accessible options to support offender management by the Probation and Parole Division within the Social Development Department.

Deputy Secretary within the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ms. Tasha Bertie said the Ministry has realised that there is a problem in addressing the present state of offenders in the Territory.

She stated, “The issue of the prison population and juveniles in conflict with the law is a pressing concern for the Territory.  We must be able to address this issue without infringing on the human rights of these individuals.  The development of this partnership is one of the avenues we are exploring, with hopes that it will address some of these concerns.”

The pilot programme will take place over the course of three months with the provision of training on the equipment, as well as utilisation of the monitoring capability.

Director of Comprehensive Security Solution Incorporated, Mr. Ryan Clarke presented to the key stakeholders from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Her Majesty’s Prison, probation and parole officers within the Social Development Department, as well as officials from the Ministry of Health.

During the presentation on September 26, Mr. Clarke demonstrated the functionality of the equipment and explained that with all partnerships, Comprehensive Security Solution Incorporated provides technical assistance in the creation of the necessary documentation to be utilised from the court process to the Probation and Parole Division, based on the needs of the respective territory.

Comprehensive Security Solutions Incorporated offers 15 years of service in the security industry which includes technical advice on security matters, and provides customised services to suit client’s individual requirements. They aim to provide trusted security services and products to governmental and private sector entities in Barbados and across the Eastern Caribbean Region.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide a caring and integrated system of health and social services that facilitate human development and improves the quality of life in the Virgin Islands.