Remand and mentally ill population among major challenges at Dominica State Prison

Superintendent of the Dominica State Prison, Kenrick Jean Jacques, has identified the remand and mentally ill populations as the most challenging issues at the facility.

While presenting his jail delivery report at the recent close of the court’s criminal assizes, Jean Jacques revealed that at present, the current population at the Dominica State Prison as of July 21, 2023, stood at 240 inmates, 237 males and three females.

Of this figure, 36 males and one female are serving a sentence from the High Court whilst 87 males and one female are serving a conviction from the Magistrate’s Court.

There are 15 non-nationals among the prison population, including three St. Lucians, two individuals from St. Martin, three Haitians, three Venezuelans, and one person each from Trinidad,  Colombia, Italy and Marie Galante.

Six of the foreign nationals are committed and 10 are on remand.

Of concern to prison officials is the fact that 119 prisoners that are on remand at the Dominica State Prison.

The Prison Superintendent said the number of inmates on remand and the length of time spent on remand before cases are heard are posing a challenge as space is becoming an issue at the prison.

Another concern of the prison administration is the 35 mentally ill prisoners who form part of the prison’s population and when questioned by the court, Jean Jacques revealed that the facility does not have a mental wing and mentally ill inmates are kept among the general population.

In response, High Court Judge, Justice Thomas W.R. Astaphan said this issue needs to be addressed since it infringes on the constitutional rights and humanity of the detainees and it is incumbent on the State to provide the necessary facility on a legislative basis.

Jean Jacques also highlighted the need for adequately trained prison officers to deal with mentally ill inmates.

Prison officials are also concerned about the unauthorised articles that continue to find their way into the prison compound.

“Perpetrators cut through the fence to place and send unauthorised articles into the prison compound. We hope that when the new fence is completed this practice will cease,” Jean Jacques noted.

Among notable developments at the prison, Jean Jacques reported that COVID-19 causes are under control and the facility has since been able to maintain visitation which resumed in December 2022.

“Visits to the prison continue two days per week Wednesdays for remanded inmates and Saturdays for the convicted inmates. We also do appointments for minors to visit,” he said.

The Superintendent detailed the success of the animal husbandry at the prison.

“The piggery project continues to be one of our greatest as we continue to supply pigs to the National Abattoir on a regular basis. We also have a few birds, goats and two cattle.”

As it relates to security at the facility, works on the Buffer Zone and expansion on remand center are ongoing and the projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2023 with llighting and cameras to be installed on the prison fence.

An additional six new officers have been added to the prison’s roaster, all of whom are currently receiving on the job training.

“We hope to receive a few more officers soon. The increase in staffing will boost our man power and relieve some of the strain on the officers,” Jean Jacques stated.

Speaking on protest action at the facility, the Superintendent said, inmates at the maximum-security block during the riot requested the rules which governs them at the prison and improvement in meals among other things.

Jean Jacques said, in attempt to address some of the concerns, a change in the prison meal menu will soon be implemented but averred that at times it becomes difficult to source some of the food items.