A lack of substance abuse programmes and psychological services in Bermuda’s prisons is detrimental to inmates.

Despite the Island’s prison population dropping nearly 25 percent in just three years, from around 350 incarcerated in 2002/03 to 266 in 2006, the current staffing levels do not meet the inmates’ needs, the Parole Board said.

In the 2006 Annual Report former chairman of the Parole Board Nelson Bascome said: “One of the main challenges is the fact that lack of staffing has caused programmes to be cut, which is detrimental to inmates and their consideration for parole, i.e. they are not able to finish programmes through no fault of their own.

“Particularly hard hit were substance abuse programmes and psychological services.”

Inmates are eligible for parole once they have served a third of their sentence, however, not everyone who applies for parole is granted it.

In 2006 the Parole Board considered 18 requests for parole at the Westgate facility but only granted seven people parole, while 24 prisoners at the Farm Facility asked for parole and only 13 were granted it.

When considering a parole application the Board looks at the nature of the offence, recommendations made by the sentencing judge, the inmate’s remorse and participation in programmes, drug related and education, as well as their behaviour while incarcerated, among other things.

Bermuda placed joint second in a list of countries with the highest prison populations in the world in 2003. In 2006 it was named 181st on the list.

However, the Board said it was important to provide prisoners with adequate programmes while they were incarcerated — but current staffing issues did not allow that.

Mr. Bascome also said: “It is also noted, from a Corrections perspective, that there is no guarantee that prisoners sentenced to less than four years imprisonment could ever complete the necessary programmes, given the current resources.”