Conjugal visits not only about sex

Speaking at a media briefing following a meeting of key stakeholders on the rights and welfare of victims of crime, the high profile criminologist and Independent Senator conceded that he had misunderstood what conjugal visits involve.

"It doesn’t only mean sex, sex and more sex," he noted. "It’s about preserving a relationship with the family that you (the criminal) have left behind."

Professor Deosaran said very often when husbands and fathers went to jail, their wives and children became victims of the crimes their loved ones committed and as a result there was an increased risk of them turning to crime.

He made the observation after commending Prisons Commis-sioner John Rougier for a series of initiatives he announced after yesterday’s meeting.

Rougier unveiled plans for a victim/offender mediation programme aimed at assisting with healing and reconciliation for criminals and their victims.

The Prisons Commissioner said it was a myth that most criminals felt no remorse for their actions.

Many of them asked for the opportunity to apologise to their victims.

He also spoke of plans for a nursery for the babies of female criminals.

He explained that separating infants from their mothers just days after birth made them secondary victims of the crimes their mothers had committed.

He said the nursery would allow for a period of contact between mother and child for the purpose of bonding.

Zena Ramatali, President of the National Parent Teachers Association (NPTA), said her organisation was contributing to the fight against crime by focusing on families.

She said the NPTA was trying to reach parents since the breakdown in family life was a significant cause of crime.

According to Ramatali, the group is also tackling the problem of bullying in schools.

Other participants at yesterday’s meeting, held at the Crowne Plaza, included Ronnie Boodoosingh of the Law Association of TT and Samraj Harripaul- Senior Parliamentary Council in the Office of the Attorney General.

They discussed plans for an Alliance for Victim Rights and Welfare which will require cooperation from the Ministries of Education, National Security, Social Development and Com-munity Development, Culture and Gender Affairs and other agencies.

The Alliance will comprise a multi-skilled team of professionals who will provide financial and emotional assistance to victims of crime.

The concept will be more fully developed at a meeting on November 12 at UWI’s St Augustine Campus.

In addition, a team will be appointed to review existing legislation and come up with ways for crime victims to play a greater role in the sentencing process without transgressing the rights of the accused.