sisters jailed in Bermuda for cocaine smuggling.

The younger sister, who has tried to kill herself twice, had claimed officers called her names and kicked her in the stomach, causing her to miscarry.

A report released yesterday found there was "no evidence that undue force was used against Theresa St. John by any prison officer'' while she and her sister Marlene, 21, were awaiting trial at the Co-Ed Facility last year.

But the report, carried out by the Treatment of Offenders Board (TOOB), was not without some unfavourable findings against the Prison Service.

Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness, admitting it was an unusual move, handed copies of the entire report to the media.

The TOOB found "derogatory names'' were used at times by prison guards to address St. John, who was 17 and pregnant at the time.

"This may have contributed to her negative behaviour and indicates a lack of professionalism by some prison officers,'' the report said.

It also found St. John "did not receive appropriate or timely psychological counselling''.

The allegations were originally made last November by two Jamaicans living on the Island who visited the sisters.

Theresa had been kicked in the stomach by a guard and verbally abused by male and female prison officers, they claimed.

The report said the incidents stemmed from a Mother's Day mishap in which Theresa claimed that when she refused to return to her cell after being unable to get through to her mother in New York, a prison guard kicked her in the stomach, causing her to lose her baby. She was then placed in an isolation cell.

But the report said her hospital file found no evidence of blows to the abdomen. And doctors said it was "unlikely'' spontaneous abortions could be inflicted by abdominal blows.

Two weeks later St. John attempted to take her own life by strangling herself with her bra.

According to the report, she attempted suicide again a few months later while under special 15-minute observations by guards, this time by drinking bleach.

In between the two suicide attempts, St. John was given a psychiatric examination.

A month after the second attempt, prison officers asked her to hand over her bra as she was potentially suicidal.

She refused and prevented entry into her cell by pushing the bed against the door.

Officers forced open the door, trapping Theresa in between the bed and wall in the process. As a result, she suffered a blow to the back of her head.

The report found the degree of force used to restrain Theresa was appropriate in both circumstances.

"However, it is apparent that there was a lack of insensitivity on the part of some prison officers to the needs of this highly stressed and difficult girl,'' TOOB members said.

"In particular the use of derogatory names is not acceptable when addressing inmates. It is also clear Theresa would have benefited from psychological counselling at an earlier stage in custody.

"This should have been recognised by prison authorities and appropriate counselling obtained for Theresa prior to a crisis erupting.'' The TOOB said the current isolation procedure had "no place in the new-look Department of Corrections''. Other avenues of punishment should be explored.

It urged that the "healthy relationship'' between Theresa and the two Jamaican women be encouraged.

She seemed more settled since her sentencing to five years for importing $140,000 of cocaine to Bermuda with her sister, who got seven years, the report found.

Mr. Edness said: "I am very pleased indeed that the prison service has been cleared of these charges. There are some recommendations in the report which will assist prison officers in dealing with prisoners like them in the future.'' The Minister noted Theresa had declined to give evidence to the Board. Among the Board's recommendations were: A method should be developed for future investigations of that nature.

If the Co-Ed Facility is to be used to house very young prisoners (under-18-year-olds), segregated facilities must be provided.

Staff need training in human relations and skills pertaining to very young offenders as well as foreign nationals.

The Prisons Department should consider standards as to the use of force and restraining methods that minimise harm to the prisoner.

Screening on arrival of all prisoners by a trained psychologist, with particular attention to young prisoners.

Psychological counselling for Theresa and 15 minute observations until it is deemed she is no longer a threat to herself.

Prisons Commissioner Mr. Edward Dyer said steps had already been taken to give officers training in human relations, although the majority of officers already had such skills.

All staff had been reminded it was an offence to use derogatory names at prisoners, he said.

He added that "every recommendation'' would be fully implemented by the time the new prison was occupied.