Changing prison culture necessary to stem violence among inmates
Over the past few years, there have been reports of violence among inmates emerging from Her Majesty’s Prison with the latest being the stabbing of high-level prisoner Jose Almestica. With that in mind, Governor John Rankin has said the culture of the prison needs to be changed to stem those cases of prison violence.
Rankin said he is concerned with any incidents at the prison which may involve violence against inmates or violence between inmates and prison officers.
He said there was a murder at the prison last year and after the incident, he along with the National Security Council ordered an external review into the security of the facility.
The Governor added that the review led to several steps being taken to improve security at the prison.
“Some of those steps relate to physical equipment in terms of making sure the electronic gates at the prison are working properly, making sure the perimeter fencing is reinforced as necessary, and making sure the prison officers have the equipment they need should there be a violent incident at the prison,” Rankin said.
“A part of it also is about the culture at the prison and making sure that prisoners have useful things to do [and] have educational opportunity, have work opportunities and I and my team at the Governor’s Office are working with the Minister for Health in driving forward that review,” he added.
Still under investigation
Although Governor Rankin said he would not get into details of incidents of violence as they are still under investigation, he added that what everyone should want is a prison that is secure and gives members of the public confidence in the security and a prison safe for both staff and prisoners.
“As it regards to contraband, which you specifically ask about, there needs to be a proper check on all materials on all persons coming into the prison to make sure illicit contraband does not come into the prison and be made available to prisoners and I will continue to work with the prison superintendent and staff to realize that goal,” Rankin said.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
It NEEDS to be run like a PRISON and not a 5 star resort!!
first BALO isn’t a prison , it’s a guest house /
what’s going on up there had to escalate sooner or later
uniform wash nn wear
They need to reintroduce chain gangs of prisoners and the principle of hard labour. They should be chained together and put to clean the gutters, cut bush along the road etc. They need to reintroduce capital punishment. These should all form part of the change in prison culture the Governor is referring to.
They need to start with proper training of staff. It is obvious that some must be compromised or the inmates would not be posting pictures of the good life. If adequate structure is put in place there will be improvement. Social media access should also be carefully monitored. There is hope if the stakeholders commit to the cause and stop turning a blind eye to obvious infractions.
For people to find more things to compare to slavery?? Then you’ll hear how the UK enslaving the black man again???
You sound ignorant. Now this is an excellent article with a lot of hog wash. The chief in charge of security states that programs are being put in place to ensure that all electric gates are working properly, tell me which part of the prison has an electronic gate? Two what programs are being implemented? every year the government allocate monies to the prison under the name rehabilitation as a sham, this money is not being used at all by the prisons, so tell me what programs? three, you refer to equipment for the officers, are you bringing more persons here to make three times the salary of the officer for training that they will not put into place. You have another situation where there is a prison Supt who does not even walk the prison, so how will issues be curbed? And lastly, lets be realistic. A prison officer gets $1,600 a month, the average one bedroom is $800, light 70, water 30, internet, 100, food 300, transport 200, and we are not adding taking care of children. Now do the maths and tell me if more training and equipment is the issue?
The change that needs to be made is to send those serving life sentences to a PRISON in the UK to alleviate the overcrowding.
Dude no offence, but that was the 80’s, it is NOW 2022!!
Grade 6 pay scale for a Prison Officer 1 – $22,720 – $36,000
I earn my keep within that bracket, and while I agree the pays already is ridiculous here in the Virgin Islands, I have NEVER sought to deal in criminal activity because I am not paid enough for my job. That’s just an excuse some people make just not to actually work.
The governor need to do his job. Make the prison a prison. When prisoners taking photographs with themselves smoking a joint and wearing big chains that sends a message that the prison is ran by the inmates. Make them wear uniforms. Clean up the cells and remove all electronic devices. More surveillance by the fences to ensure that nothing gets in unless it’s allowed. Increase searches in the cells. Try something different.
The pay of the job is not determined by the cost of your monthly bills but by what the industry determination of that worth and cost to it. A prison officer is a security guard. You are not there to work and collect the value of your monthly bills. You have to adjust your lifestyle or work a second job. Where are the rehab programmes and half way programmes for transition back to the community?
Governor you need to bring UK officers on rotation and get rid of the officers up there that also one the problem officers friending up with inmated and taking money for illegal activity . Change the atmophere by changing the culture ,house the rotating guards on the prison so inmates cant intimated or sent threat.
??,a prison officer is not a security guard. A prison officer’s salary or any one’s salary should reflect the commitment and risk that goes with his/her duties. I’m sure that a fire man,immigration officer, custom officer and even a police officer earns more than a prison officer. Why?
How about just changing to a culture that values educations, ethics and honesty, where people respectfully collaborate to build a prosperous nation, instead of a culture of the fast buck, big bling wannabee gangstahs shooting each other.
As far as prison time, there should be hard labor. Eight hours a day, every day save Sunday. There’s plenty of public works that require labor.
And, if we want more effective prisons, we need to fund them.
Why aren’t there any ‘cold cells’? No cellular phones access and internet for ALL inmates unless used under strict conditions in a computer lab or other facility onsite. Another is to have a UNIFORM introduced with HMP issued shoes (cheap flip flops). The nonsense has been allowed unabated to go in for FAR too long! When will it cease?!?! Commissary accounts for ALL inmates with monthly monetary limits.
No reform programs, no addiction or other forms of counseling seems to be apparent. Also, work out an MOU with the UK to send officers here on rotations with those her going to the UK to learn what a real prison officer does. Annual background and financial checks to see whom are living above their means and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Action is needed urgently more so than eloquent wordsmiths!
I love your story. Alas this was the story of many small islands. TV has introduced a whole different culture. People have become inhumane and cruel to one another. The prisoners today used to wear an orange t shirt when they are out in the yard. Not sure what is being done now. There definitely needs to be more rehabilitative programmes up at the prison including a school. Too many of our young men are ending up there with no skills to fall back on when they are released.
After reading these comments, I understand why incarcerated people prefer to do their time in the BVI. In the USA, incarcerated people in jails and in prison do not have internet access and they wear uniform.
Anyone can survive on that if they don’t get a king sized crib of children and live within their means (i.e. big ride, jewelry)
Start with a prison uniform to make them realize where they are. Next politicians should be advocating their heads off about prison safety…..
What is the purpose of the prison? Is it an extension of society? Is it for rehab? Is it for punishment? Is it for changed behavior? Is it for show? What is the message being sent when people go and visit their friends/family/loved ones there? Is it a joke? Is it a badge of honour? Who does it serve? Should it be moved? What should we expect of persons who leave that fine institution on the hill? Can anyone really be helped in there?
Changed world Rog. Blame it on the coming of al services and tourism.
When you say adjust are you actually thinking of what you are saying. Do you realize that the locals are not taking the job because of the salary rate. And when the islanders come in, the rent is more than half their salary. So since you have so much mouth. Tell the hard working prison officers how to adjust. You’ll always have some nonsensical comments with no solution. The figures were given to you and you still put up a foolish comment.
It’s a nothing response from the Governor. The prison is unfit for purpose and unfit for this century. It is overcrowded, lacking in facilities, no meaningful segregation in any shape or form.Others have mentioned the lack of any cohesive regime of work,education, rehabilitation and other purposeful activity. For staff where is the opportunity to train and learn and have a meaningful career structure? There is none. Given all that what do the people of BVI want of and from their prison? What do the politicians want of and from their prison and more importantly are they prepared to invest the sums of money needed because it will take money and lots of it if they want the prison to be modern forward thinking and addressing the issues of crime and rehabilitation. Ultimately and not just BG prisons are not vote winners they are largely out of sight out of mind.Is it any wonder things drift