New Prison Act to focus on rehabilitation, not punishment

Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, has announced that the Guyana Prison Service is set for major reform, with a new approach that emphasises rehabilitation and reintegration rather than punishment.

Speaking during a recent interview with the News Room, Walrond said the government is in the process of developing a new Prison Act that will shift the penal system toward helping inmates rebuild their lives.

“The way we deal with prison or the penal system has to change.

“We’re looking at an approach that is less about punishment and more about rehabilitation and reintegration into society,” she said.

The country has five prison locations across the country with over 2,000 inmates.

According to Walrond, the majority of the country’s inmates are young men, and the government does not want to lose “an entire generation” to crime or unproductive lifestyles.

“We want them to feel as though they have an opportunity to live a normal life after coming out of prison,” she explained, noting that the reforms aim to remove stigma while revamping the entire system.

The proposed changes include creating more opportunities for inmates to earn an income, pursue education, and learn trades while incarcerated.

Already, the Prison Service offers a number of rehabilitation programmes for inmates in areas such as tailoring, carpentry and culinary arts.

Those who successfully complete training or return to school will be rewarded.

“We want them to start feeling what it’s like to live as productive human beings, as opposed to being locked up in a cell like a caged animal,” Walrond said.

She acknowledged that some members of the public may question why such reforms matter but stressed that successful reintegration benefits society as a whole.

“They ultimately do come back out and back into communities. We are all going to be affected if someone comes out and is not fit for a productive life.

“Best practice is treating inmates as if they will be and can be productive members of society,” Walrond noted.

Walrond also revealed that a pilot project will soon be launched, allowing assessed inmates to work on community and infrastructure projects.

These prisoners will be monitored and paid for their work, enabling them to help support their families while boosting their self-esteem and confidence.

“We have this huge mandate in Georgetown to build out our city, and they are going to be part of this,” Walrond noted, adding that the initiative will be the first of many aimed at transforming the prison system and promoting social rehabilitation.