Minister of Justice Devesh Maharaj says several legislative measures aimed at strengthening the justice system are expected to be introduced when Parliament resumes.
He highlighted reforms focused on prisoner rehabilitation, crime prevention and giving victims and reformed offenders opportunities to rebuild their lives.
He also pointed to the recently passed Parole Act, which allows prisoners to be considered for early release once they demonstrate that they have been reformed and rehabilitated.
“We also, as you know, passed the Parole Act, which is new as well, allowing prisoners early release on the condition that they have been reformed and rehabilitated. So we are improving the whole reform and rehabilitation of prisoners. We have engaged the prison authorities and professionals to come up with a plan, evidence-based, not just telling us that it’s working. We want to see how is it working.”
Minister Maharaj said rehabilitation forms part of a wider approach to crime prevention, with the Ministries of Justice and Homeland Security working together.
Speaking about the proposal to explore using prisoners sentenced to hard labour for national clean-up and maintenance efforts, he highlighted initiatives aimed at preventing young people from entering a life of crime.
“We work closely together because we think we want to prevent, first of all, people entering into crime, right? So we have developed in Aranguez/St Joseph an entrepreneurship programme with young entrepreneurs, bringing them, you have ideas come forward. We engage with NIDCO. We engage with private enterprise in the area to help them start their own business. If they don’t have a work, they might have a wonderful idea and so on. So first of all, we’re trying to get them not to enter the crime. After that, if, however, you fall off the wagon, we don’t want that to blemish you forever.”
He said the opportunity for a second chance also extends to people who have already served their sentences, pointing to the recently passed Criminal Records Act.
“We passed the Criminal Records Act, which means that after a certain time, your record will be wiped clean. Certain terms and conditions, because when you have a record and you go for a certificate of character, you want to travel, visa, you can’t produce that, you know, the embassies and so will turn you down. You’re going for a job like, you know, the bigger companies, they want you to produce a certificate of character. When that comes on your thing, people are prevented now from furthering their lives because of a mistake they make earlier in their life.”
With Parliament set to resume, Maharaj said further legislative measures are expected as Government continues its efforts to strengthen the justice system.