18 new corrections officers will join the ranks in October
Concerns over aging infrastructure and a lack of rehabilitation programs at the island’s correctional facilities were highlighted in reports tabled in the Senate today.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Kim Wilkerson acknowledged the state of the system and re-affirmed her ministry’s efforts to make improvements.
18 new corrections officers will join the ranks in October – a priority move to ease pressure on current staff. Still, 17 vacancies remain.
One challenge in hiring, AG Wilkerson says, is the island’s close-knit community.
The Ministry has also brought in a consultant psychologist to support leadership within the Department of Corrections.
AG Wilkerson says the move is crucial in improving conditions for officers and inmates.
Additional measures include rolling repairs to facilities, a strengthened Treatment of Offenders Board, and a renewed Parole Board.
Despite these reforms, AG Wilkerson says she’d like to see progress move even faster.
You can find the full statement that AG Wilkerson delivered in the Senate below.
