Prison authorities are mulling whether to set up a mental health treatment unit to cope with growing demand.

In his Budget speech this week Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Randy Horton said the Department of Corrections was conscious of the difficulties associated with the safety, treatment and care of the mentally ill inmates.

He said: “The options are not readily available to house mentally ill inmates in the appropriate facility in the community for various reasons. The Department will, therefore, pursue the transfer of mentally ill inmates to St. Brendan's Hospital with a view to have them received as outpatients.”

He said correctional officers interacted with mentally ill inmates every day. “Although the environment is not ideal, the establishment of a care plan is essential.

“Treatment providers offer therapeutic sessions and group activities daily, assess suitable accommodations for mentally ill inmates to prevent their abuse and monitor them for proper release procedure and follow up in the community.

“Consideration is being given to the establishment of a Mental Health Treatment Unit within one of the correctional facilities, as the Department is anticipating an increase of persons with serious mental problems.”

Concern over Prison cell phone smuggling

Prison authorities could get a device to block cell phone use after failing to stop them being smuggled in.

Prison Commissioner Hubert Dean told The Royal Gazette this week cell phones were still turning up in sweeps for contraband by security teams, even though no drugs had been found recently.

Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Randy Horton said in Wednesday's budget speech the problem was very serious. “The phones can be used to make transactions for contraband, they can be used to intimidate potential witnesses and so on. The senior administration of the Department is exploring the feasibility of installing a device that will prevent cell phone calls from being transmitted in or out of the facilities.

“However, there are legal issues that must be addressed before there can be any move in that direction.

“Increased security checks have already been introduced for staff, visitors and inmates. The Commissioner intends to keep the pressure on and achieve more positive results.”

There are three scanners at prison facilities but one prison source told The Royal Gazette the scanners did not pick up plastic phones.

Money set aside for speed cameras

The Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety ministry has put aside $100,000 for speed cameras this year - but no date has been given for implementation.

Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton said: “The Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety acknowledges this item has remained on the books for several years now and efforts will continue to bring this project to fruition.”

He said Police have conducted research into the acquisition of speed cameras. “This project remains somewhat complex owing to the cross-Ministry nature of the processes involved.

“These processes include ticketing, production of citations, production of photographic evidence, data processing and court administration.

“Consultation on this project continues and this continues to be a work in progress.”