In Balsam Ghut, there are 138 inmates in a prison that was built to house roughly 60, Superintendent Richard Holder told Justice Albert Redhead at the end of the criminal assizes on Friday.
“Overcrowding at Her Majesty’s Prison continues to be a problem,” he said.
Last year, Mr. Holder said he hoped this issue would be alleviated through the introduction of a parole system.
Governor Boyd McCleary approved a seven-member parole board in June, but signs of a functioning system have not yet been seen. Before the board can hold its first meeting, members must undergo a training period with an officer of the United Kingdom Parole Board, according to Maria Mays, a Governor’s Office policy representative.
In a June interview, Ms. Mays indicated that this wasn’t likely to happen before this month.
While overcrowding continues to be a problem, Mr. Holder, a 30-year police veteran, said the prison has shown improvements in other areas such as health care.
See the Aug. 2, 2012 edition for full coverage.
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