Bermuda's prisons are in a "horrible" state, with the entire correctional system in need of review, claims a man recently released from jail.

Charles Spanswick received a three-week sentence for failure to pay a debt. He served the time at Westgate Correctional Facility at Dockyard and the Farm facility at Ferry Reach, and claims conditions at both were substandard.

Acting Prison Commissioner Clarence Davies has vowed to investigate Mr. Spanswick's complaints but said it is not uncommon for recently released offenders to feel "disgruntled".

According to Mr. Spanswick, bathing was limited at the Farm due to insufficient water and cutlery was in short supply at Westgate.

"We were not given anything to eat out of and the only utensils I was given were a plastic spoon/fork and a mug," he said. "One day I lost my [spork] and it took more than two days for an officer to give me a new one. Most of the fellows in there eat out of the cut-off bottoms of bleach bottles. All I had was a styrofoam take-out box that I had to use as a plate and a bowl. At a cost to the taxpayer of $80,000 per prisoner per year, the system really isn't cutting it."

Despite that he said he preferred the conditions at the maximum security prison to those at the Farm. Mr. Spanswick said he was informed that he would be moved to the St. George's facility a few days after his arrival at Westgate.

"The condition of that building is an outright disgrace," he alleged.

One of Mr. Spanswick's major complaints was the lack of access to water. He claimed that the facility is forced to buy truckloads of water every day because of a broken reverse osmosis plant. Water is rationed as a result, he said.

"How can they fairly tell an inmate that he can't take a shower? What is going on in this system?" he asked.

Acting Prison Commissioner Mr. Davies admitted that the water situation was not perfect.

"In terms of water, not only prisoners, but everyone in Bermuda needs to conserve their supply," he said. "And yes, we are experiencing problems with the osmosis plant but we are in the process of getting it all fixed.

"In terms of cutlery and things like that we have a sufficient supply of everything. If there are legitimate concerns regarding these issues, they will certainly be looked into and addressed. I will look into the matter of the cutlery as we have a budget that covers these types of things."