The Commissioner of Prisons says the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service continues to uphold international standards in the treatment and care of inmates, including those living with disabilities and serious medical conditions.
Speaking exclusively with TTT News, Commissioner Carlos Corraspe explained that inmates with disabilities are not left without care behind prison walls, and measures are in place to ensure they receive proper medical attention, daily care and humane treatment while incarcerated.
Commissioner Corraspe shared that every inmate entering the prison system undergoes a medical assessment, conducted by prison medical officers, to determine their physical and medical needs.
“So those guys will have the responsibility for carrying out the assessments of the persons in terms of if it is someone who has a particular disability. And once the doctor determines, the inmate, as far as possible, will be housed at a station or a location where they are able to manage.”
He said inmates with mobility challenges may be placed in prison infirmaries equipped with wheelchairs, crutches and other amenities to assist with movement and care.
Trained prison officers and inmate orderlies are also available to assist prisoners who cannot independently manage daily activities.
“So it’s not a case where the person will not have those services available. As I said, we have had in the past several inmates who have physical disabilities, and we have managed successfully those persons within the prison system.”
The Commissioner said medical care remains a key part of prison management, noting that inmates requiring specialised treatment can also be transported to public hospitals for further attention.
He said occupational health and safety teams regularly assess prison facilities and make recommendations for improvements to better accommodate inmates with disabilities.
“And of course, these recommendations are then filtered into our annual draft estimates request for resources in order to improve the conditions at the prison facilities.”
Commissioner Corraspe also revealed that under prison regulations, medical officers can recommend the discharge of an inmate if continued incarceration poses a serious threat to their life due to medical complications.