Garth Rattray | What happens in prison does not stay in prison

On November 1, 2010, a piece that I wrote for The Gleaner ‘Don’t dehumanise prisoners’ was inspired by my conversations with an ex-convict, a retired correctional officer, and an official from the Ministry of Justice.

I was, and still am, very concerned about the inhumane treatment of our incarcerated and the lack of reform, despite the renaming of our prisons as “Correctional Centres”. In 2021 Jamaica’s recidivism rate (rate of re-offence after being released from so-called ‘correctional centres’) was 41 per cent. Despite a reduction in the rate of incarceration, Jamaica’s incarceration rate per capita is 131.84 cases per 100,000.

When compared to the rest of the world, Jamaica’s incarceration rate ranks 103 out of the 226 countries, dependent territories, and subnational areas surveyed. That does not look too bad; however, we must remember that our jails and prisons are extremely overcrowded, most are dilapidated and lack basic sanitary facilities. Besides, if we were to apprehend most of our offenders, we could never find the space and could not afford to give them custodial sentences.

The interviews that I had with an ex-con, a retired correctional officer, and with someone from the Ministry of Justice were very revealing. However, what I found shocking and extremely disturbing was a remark made by the official from the Ministry of Justice. In responding to my serious concern about how the incarcerated are being treated, the official proclaimed, “They mustn’t go to prison then?”. This intimates that, as far as the powers that be are concerned, despite what they tell us and despite all the renaming, they see prisons as mainly punitive.

BAD MISTAKE

Using imprisonment mainly as a deterrent to crime is a very bad mistake. Harsh conditions harden people. When they get out, they are truly hardened criminals, carrying chips on their shoulders for society. Not only do the ex-cons carry chips on their shoulders for society, their families, relatives, friends, and cohorts also hate society for what it has done to one of their own. In fact, ex-cons see themselves as triumphant for having survived and overcome the worst that our society throws at them.

Unlike days of old, when being an ex-con cast a very dark shadow of distrust and embarrassment on everyone closely associated with the individual, especially on the family members, nowadays ex-cons are seen as heroes and as tough people who have proven their mettle by surviving imprisonment. Now, it’s akin to a badge of honour within their community and a red flag for others who might be tempted to test them.

The Sunday Gleaner article of August 4, titled ‘Kartel feared death in prison’, revealed that Kartel was forced to endure urinating in plastic bottles and defecating in plastic bags at nights. He, in an affidavit to the court, said he was also forced to eat and drink in the same environment. The bedding was dirty and, rats, bedbugs and roaches plagued him at nights. His living conditions for over 10 years were said to be filthy, and inhumane. The same or similar conditions must be endured by other inmates. How can that rehabilitate anyone?

Generally, inmates are issued one drinking cup, one bucket (a small pail for washing clothes), one bar of carbolic soap, one measured cup of soap powder (in a plastic bag), disinfectant (in a plastic bag) and one roll of toilet paper. Other necessities like toothbrush, toothpaste, rags, towels and articles of clothing must be brought in by visitors. Some things are bought at the tuck shop with monies deposited by visitors.

Many cells are about 6x4 feet, and house three or four inmates. Some buy hammocks so that two are suspended atop each other, while two sleep on the concrete floor (usually on newspaper or cardboard). There is no linen and inmates make makeshift personal urinals out of plastic syrup bottles hung on nails. Inmates “screen off” (turn their backs) whenever someone needs privacy for urinating or changing clothes. Blocks with long-term inmates have one man per cell.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT?

Between the prolonged lockdown times in tiny, hot, poorly ventilated, and crowded cells with no proper sleeping facilities, poor food, limited access to running water and limited educational or vocational activities for the general inmate, what do we expect from them when they are marinated in adverse conditions and exposed to career criminals who influence them negatively?

The criminals of ill repute retain their street reputations. Instead of being ashamed, embarrassed, or remorseful for their crimes, they enjoy sharing their experiences and may be even lauded for their brutality. One such prisoner was given the moniker “headless” for beheading his victim. Inmates wear clothes supplied by visitors and are sometimes outfitted in designer clothes. These are seen on the occasional video released from prison parties complete with music, liquor and profiling. There has never been any explanation of how the correctional officers either miss these events or allow them.

Most people believe that prisoners should suffer. The problem is that what happens to them in prison impacts the rest of society when they get out. What happens in prison does not stay in prison, so it would be wise for us to improve the conditions under which convicts are incarcerated, treat inmates humanely and make certain that they are rehabilitated. Once released back into society, reformed prison inmates will become agents for [positive] change. As The Gleaner editorial August 19 wrote,’Among the measures of a society’s decency and humanity is how it treats its members who run afoul of its mores and its laws. Even in punishment, the better ones offer compassion and attempts rehabilitation. Jamaica’s prisons get a failing grade.’

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com