The Prison Officers’ Association of Trinidad and Tobago has acknowledged the Minister of Homeland Security’s recent proposal to reintroduce convicted inmates into public spaces to assist with maintenance and cleanup initiatives previously undertaken through CEPEP, while raising a series of concerns about how such a programme should be implemented.
In a statement, the Association said meaningful work is an important element of rehabilitation, noting that properly structured work programmes can help inmates develop practical skills, foster discipline and better prepare them for successful reintegration into society. However, the Association stressed that any expansion of inmate work programmes beyond the secure confines of correctional facilities must be approached with caution and guided by established correctional principles.
Only carefully selected inmates who have been medically certified fit, served an appropriate portion of their sentence, and successfully completed comprehensive medical, security and behavioural risk assessments should be considered for such duties, the Association said, emphasising that public safety must remain the foremost priority. The Association also noted that supervising inmate work details in public spaces is a highly specialised correctional function requiring adequately trained prison officers, sufficient staffing, secure transportation, appropriate equipment and clear operational procedures.
It expressed particular concern that prison officers continue to operate with inadequate communication devices and other essential operational resources, warning that deploying officers and inmates outside correctional facilities without reliable communication equipment significantly compromises officer safety, emergency response capabilities, operational command and public security.
“These deficiencies must be addressed before any expansion of external inmate work programmes is considered,” the Association said.
The Association further pointed to what it described as a more pressing issue facing the correctional system: a steadily increasing inmate population. Beyond longstanding challenges posed by a growing remand population resulting from delays in the criminal justice system, the Association said the recent addition of individuals detained under Preventive Detention Orders (PDOs) has placed further pressure on an already strained prison system. Overcrowding, staffing shortages and limited resources, it said, continue to affect the Prison Service’s ability to safely and effectively manage the inmate population.
While reaffirming that rehabilitation remains a core objective of modern corrections, the Association said equal attention must be given to strengthening the capacity of the Prison Service through improved staffing, infrastructure, communication systems, security resources, transportation and timely judicial processes. “Without addressing these longstanding deficiencies, expanding inmate work programmes into public spaces would expose both prison officers and the public to unnecessary operational and security risks,” the statement said.
The Prison Officers’ Association said it supports rehabilitation that is safe, structured and evidence-based, and expressed its readiness to work with the Government and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that any future inmate work programme is implemented responsibly and professionally.