Prison Service receives $30 million worth of equipment to enhance rehabilitation efforts

On Monday, the Guyana Prison Service was presented with Information Communications Technology (ICT) equipment valued at around $30 million, which was obtained through the Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme (SCJS) funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, remarked that the ICT equipment would aid the government's efforts towards prison system rehabilitation and support the training of all types of prisoners in ICT. The equipment distributed among the New Amsterdam, Lusignan, Timehri, and Mazaruni prison centers includes 100 desktop computers, ten laptops, four wifi routers, four laserjet printers, and five projectors with screens. Its aim is to support the education of prisoners and foster a positive environment for rehabilitation and personal growth, ensuring that they are better prepared to reintegrate into society after their release. AG Nandlall stated that the enhancement of mental health facilities within the prison structure is just one aspect of their collaboration with the prisons. He added that their approach has become more systematic, analytical, and programmatic, with a closer examination of these matters. The program aims to reduce the number of prisoners in jail and also supports the government's rehabilitation agenda by exploring alternative approaches. The agenda seeks to shift the focus from punishment to education and productivity, with the ultimate goal of reducing recidivism. According to the Attorney General, there is a shift in the justice system's focus from punishment to rehabilitation, and the prison service is a vital component of this change. The government is exploring new approaches such as restorative justice to support individual rehabilitation within the prison system.

Source(News: Department of Public Information, Image: Department of Public Information )

---

8 Mar 2023 10:00 | by anaraine

| Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Standards