on the US stop list.

He said the ban prevented them from continuing their education in the States.

And he urged Government to put pressure on the US to relax the restriction.

Judge Tumim, Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales, makes his appeal in his report on Bermuda' criminal justice system.

He says the restriction on a drug offender -- or serious criminal -- is a "cause of anxiety''.

"It makes him a virtual prisoner in Bermuda. He cannot go, in particular for tertiary education, to the US or the Caribbean.

"There is a modified stop list for Canada. There is a Bermudian stop list the other way, but inevitably on their relative sizes, this is less important.'' Judge Tumim's other recommendations for the prison system include: No person under 16 being held by the prison service.

Training programmes for prisoners to help them ween inmates back into society.

A half-way house, as suggested by Prison Fellowship and the Salvation Army.

Separate accommodation for young offenders at the new prison.

A review of the Treatment of Offenders Board, leading to explanations for parole refusals.

Judge Tumim claims the US stop list can have a damaging effect on ex-prisoners trying to rehabilitate themselves.

The ban includes passengers using American airports enroute to the Caribbean and elsewhere, he says.

For Bermudians the result could be severe, as tertiary education opportunities on the Island were very limited, he adds.

"In practice, a waiver system operates, but rarely before five years have elapsed from the date of the conviction.

"Regardless of the existence of a waiver, any Bermudian with such a record will experience routine difficulty at the airport.

"In this connection we spoke to a few individuals who had achieved considerable success in business despite having served prison sentences.

"However, despite the period of time which had elapsed since their sentences, they were often the subject of inquiries when leaving or entering the Island.'' On Bermuda's new prison, Judge Tumim's report states it should signal significant changes.

In particular, it should mark moves towards preparing prisoners for release.

"Staff anticipate training based regimes as being important in the new prison, and it is imperative that they be trained to develop them.''