Ministry in charge of prisons in her final address as head of the board.

Ms Landy said: "My final thoughts as chairman are that the communication and understanding between the chairman and the Ministry leaves a lot to be desired.'' But she added: "Because of my interests and general concerns, I will serve out my tenure as deputy chair.'' And she left some advice: "I would urgently recommend that a review and expunging of irrelevant notes that affect the ability of ex-inmates obtaining a job because of things like stealing loquats for example.'' Ms Landy's comments came in the 1996 report on the board's work, laid before the House of Assembly yesterday.

The overseas drug rehabilitation programme at Hazelden in the US was said to be "the most valuable tool within the system that can point to real and proven rehabilitation as well as a long-lasting cure.'' But the report added: "However, the community may well need this programme at other facilities.'' The Board report backs the random use of sniffer dogs to clamp down on drug abuse in the prisons, and more random drugs testing for officers as well as inmates.

Inmates who complete drugs programmes and stay drugs-free during jail terms should be rewarded, said the report.

The report added: "There appears to be a real inconsistency in the eligibility of drug offenders, i.e. those incarcerated for `intending to supply' for parole.

"It is very frustrating to interview inmates who appear to be fully cognizant and remorseful for their past illicit activities -- and who have come to terms with and received treatment for their own drug problems -- knowing that Government policy prevents TOOB from seriously considering them for parole.'' The report said: "The prison system is already full of members of the so-called `disenfranchised underclass' of our society and we do not need to exacerbate the problem by dealing out punishment inconsistently to various groups.'' The report also suggests that parole and work release should be linked to attendance at educational programmes in the prison system as "several inmates have clearly expressed their disdain'' for prison classes.

And some prisoners should have mandatory education ordered by the courts as part of the sentence.

A surprise recommendation was the re-opening of Casemates for mentally-ill or criminally-insane prisoners.

The report also said there was an "urgent need for the adequate number of officers at all facilities.'' For young and teenage offenders, the report recommended home detention as cost effective.

Some civil and traffic offences could be dealt with by "monitor'' -- a burglar alarm-style device -- between "seven p.m. to seven a.m. Monday to Sunday'' added the report.

And a "tough love'' mandatory army-style programme lasting between one and three months is also suggested a way to shock youngsters out of a life of crime.