A prison waiting to explode
CHIEF JUSTICE Sat Sharma has sent out a warning, that if something is not done about the overcrowding at the nation’s prisons, there can be a cataclysmic explosion. "From all appearances, our prison population is likely to increase steadily in the near future and if all else remains the same, we do not need a crystal ball to predict with a measure of certainty, that we will be due for a cataclysmic explosion." Speaking at the ceremonial opening of the 2005-2006 law term on Friday, Sharma renewed his appeal of last year for something to be done about the state of the prisons. According to the Chief Justice, there are 2,371 convicted felons in prison, and another 1,411 in custody awaiting trial. He added, "Whether on remand or serving a sentence, detainees are committed to prison as a consequence of an order of the court and so the judiciary has a vested interest in existing prison condition and must be satisfied that persons incarcerated on remand are accorded treatment consistent with the presumption of innocence and those sentenced to a term of years are not dehumanised in the name of justice." Sharma continued, "The judiciary must neither close its eyes nor shut its mouth when the evidence suggests that its orders may be resulting in unintentional and undesirable consequences." He said the Law Association brought to his attention, the state of the prisons. Sharma said that in 1998, a number of judges paid an informal visit to the Golden Grove and Maximum Security Prisons and were shocked and appalled at the conditions there. Sharma said the time had come for the judges and magistrates to undertake another visit. He said most of the problems were being addressed and the new Commissioner of Prisons John Rougier has expressed his intentions to do something about the conditions. Sharma pointed out that the police, the prosecuting authority, the judiciary, and the prisons were inextricably linked in the system of criminal justice. "To date, the departments have worked in isolation without a common philosophy or master plan and as the level of violent crime, in particular murder, rises exponentially, the solution to our present dilemma might be the establishment of a central authority exercising joint leadership over the criminal justice system." Sharma said the authorities must deal with the volumes of prisoners. He said the country cannot wait until 2020. "We must act now. I hope that in my address for the opening of the next law term, I can report strides that have been made in bringing our prison system into the 21st century," the Chief Justice added.
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"A prison waiting to explode"