Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer
Reese: New Broughton's reopening will relieve overcrowding at other correctional centres. - FILE
THE RENOVATED New Broughton Sunset Rehabilitation Adult Correctional Centre was officially reopened on Tuesday, December 20. The centre, like a number of structures in the south Manchester region, was severely damaged during Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
Built in 1916, the facility is used to house low-risk and ageing inmates of the penal system.
It currently houses 80 inmates in open dorms similar to that of an army barracks, with little or no fencing although they are supervised by some 30 Department of Correctional Services personnel.
Before the hurricane, the facility was mostly self-supporting, according to Commissioner of the Correctional Services, Major Richard Reese.
CROPS PLANTED
The inmates planted vegetables and reared pigs, chickens and other animals which were sold to support themselves and the institution. Some of the money derived was also used to assist the inmates' dependents.
The renovation cost $2.7 million, of which the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands provided $2 million and the Jamaican Government funded the remaining amount.
Major Reese told The Gleaner that the reopening of the facility will help to relieve the incidence of overcrowding at other institutions, particularly at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre. He said there are low-risk prisoners at that facility who can now be transferred to the New Broughton Rehabilitation Centre once they meet the requirements as set out in the department's new guidelines.
He said the new guidelines were developed by Canadian consultants and so far are proving to be very effective in determining how inmates should be classified. Inmates are classified in three categories, low, medium and high-risk.
Major Reese said that the New Broughton facility is part of the transition process in getting the inmates back to their families and communities. Member of Parliament for the area, Michael Peart, and Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Derrick Kellier, were present at the function.
