by Maria Bradshaw

THIRTY INMATES could soon be released from prison under the soon-to-be implemented parole system.

That is the proposed number the Ministry of Home Affairs will test initially under the pilot Conditional Release and Parole Project announced by Attorney-General and Minister of Home Affairs Dale Marshall on Monday.

Marshall told MIDWEEK NATION yesterday that inmates from both the male and female population would have to meet certain criteria.

For instance, only inmates serving a prison sentence of not more than five years and who have completed two-thirds of that sentence would be considered. In addition, those inmates would also have to have a history of good behaviour.

Marshall further explained that upon their release, the inmates would be monitored and would have to subject themselves to weekly visits by supervisors of the Probation Department.

That department, he said, was very supportive of the project and had played a major role in crafting it.

In addition, inmates' victims would also be given an opportunity to make representation, which could be taken into account by the parole board.

Marshall said the planned parole programme was not only to ease the pressure at the newly constructed Her Majesty's Prisons Dodds but mainly
to help in the rehabilitation of inmates.

He noted: "Psychologists and criminologists indicate that there is
a point in an inmate's sentence beyond which rehabilitation becomes difficult. If they are not captured by that time the criminologists posit that they would not be a good candidate for parole."

He said counsellors on the prison staff would be increased and there would also be a full-time post of a psychologist.

Marshall said his ministry had examined parole systems in Jamaica, Canada and England, and while each had its attractive features, each also presented difficulties. He said Barbados preferred to institute its own.

"This is a pilot and once we have assessed how it functions we will be
in a better position to determine how parole will work in Barbados, based
on our experience, he said."

He pointed out that this project, part of the penal reform initiative, fell under Section 58 of the Prison Act and gave the minister the power to permit
a prisoner to be at large (released).

While noting that the support of the public would be important if this project was to work effectively, Marshall said no prisoner serving a life sentence would be eligible, nor would inmates serving sentences for murder, drug trafficking and sexual offences – particularly involving minors,
and other violent offences.