Stand Up for Jamaica questions Government's $8b–$10b prison plan

Human rights organisation Stand Up for Jamaica is questioning the Government’s plan to build a new maximum-security correctional facility, arguing that Jamaica should focus on rehabilitation and separating serious offenders from those convicted of less serious crimes.

In a statement on Monday, Executive Director Maria Carla Gullotta said that while the country’s existing correctional facilities are “deplorable” and in need of replacement, the proposed $8 billion to $10 billion investment raises questions about whether a large maximum-security prison is the most appropriate solution.

Gullotta said correctional institutions have two main purposes: protecting society from dangerous offenders and rehabilitating those who can be reintegrated into society. However, she argued that Jamaica’s current system does not adequately separate the two groups.