DCS pushes community work for non-violent offenders

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) wants more non-violent offenders to serve their sentences through community work rather than prison, arguing that scarce cell space should be reserved for the most dangerous criminals.

Commissioner of Corrections Brigadier (Ret’d) Radgh Mason said the department planned to make community work more visible, including having offenders paint schools and improve public spaces.

He said the initiative would allow people who had committed non-violent offences to contribute to their communities while being rehabilitated, rather than occupying space in correctional institutions.