Lack of PRISON capacity leaves dozens of CRIMINALS on the streets

PHILIPSBURG -- There are 136 current verdicts, Minister of Justice Anna Richardson told the parliamentary Justice Committee recently. This means that 136 criminals who have a prison sentence to their name, are still waiting to serve that sentence. This is due to the lack of capacity at the Pointe Blanche prison.

The prison currently has forty cells with a maximum occupancy of two inmates per cell. Minister Richardson said that it is “a sad reality” that verdicts are outpacing the available detention capacity. This is due to measures aimed at tackling capacity issues, the minister explained. These measures limit the capacity to two inmates per cell and promote the use of alternative detention facilities, like the Miss Lalie Center that was reopened in 2019. The justice department also uses monitoring with electronic ankle bracelets and early release once an inmate meets certain criteria. The justice ministry meets frequently with prison management, the public prosecutor’s office and the parole board “to assess the situation and to decide on the most appropriate measures.”

Photo Caption: Justice Minister Anna E. Richardson meeting with Progress