Bordelais Correctional Facility
The weak judicial system is being blamed for the massive overcrowding taking place at the island’s main penal institution – Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF) – which now has a total prison population of 607.
The institution, which was built some 14 years ago, was designed to accommodate only 450 inmates, but has since exceeded this mark every year and the number keeps growing daily.
Office-in-Charge of Operations at BCF, Clive Jules, told HTS News Force in a recent interview that this is causing major problems for persons working at the institution.
Jules explained that remand inmates are dealt with by the courts and the BCF cannot refuse them. “It is our responsibility as part of the judicial system is to receive these inmates,” he said.
However, the prison official said, he is hoping that the courts will soon be able to bring some relief the BCF of some of the overcrowding problems that they are currently faced with.
He noted that of the 607 inmates, half of that amount is persons who have been placed on remand.
In providing a breakdown of the inmates charged for serious crimes, Jules said, 106 persons are on murder/ causing death charges; 25 for attempted murder and 10 for firearm/ammunition.
In addition to that, 18 inmates are facing sex with minor charges, rape (18); indecent assault (5); grievous harm (22); robbery (30); burglary (25); incest (2); arson (3); cannabis (25); cocaine (17).
Jules said while 258 inmates are serving out sentences, 349 are still awaiting trial.
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