-- based on Government figures.

That was the claim of controversial criminologist Mrs. Sheelagh Cooper yesterday.

Mrs. Cooper, branding Casemates a potential AIDS breeding ground, called for a wholesale testing programme for prisoners.

And she also voiced fears about infected prisoners being released into society.

"They unknowingly represent a potential threat to their families and the community at large,'' she said.

Mrs. Cooper, a former director of prisons for women in Canada, spoke out after coming under fire from Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness.

He attacked her for speculating as many as 60 percent of the Casemates prison population may have the HIV virus.

Mr. Edness, branding the speculation "careless'', said five percent of prisoners were known to be infected.

He added 186 prisoners had been tested since 1985 -- with 58 testing positive.

Mrs. Cooper, a criminology lecturer at Bermuda College with two Masters degrees on the subject, based her estimate on the HIV carrier rate outside prisons, and the percentage of drug abusers among inmates.

Yesterday she dubbed Mr. Edness' figures "disturbing'', saying they confirmed her concern.

"According to the official data released, almost one in every three of those inmates who were tested were found to be infected upon entry to the institution.

"Although Ministry officials can only confirm that no less than five percent of the total prison population is infected, their own tests would suggest a possible inmate infection rate, upon entry, of almost 33 percent.'' Mrs. Cooper said more than one inmate per prison cell could be HIV infected.

"Given what typically happens when men are confined four to a cell for long periods, Casemates is a potential breeding ground for the virus.'' Mrs. Cooper suggested inducements could be offered prisoners to encourage them to undergo AIDS tests.

She stressed she did not want to sound "alarmist.'' "The truth is neither Mr. Edness nor myself have any idea of the true figures.''