Bermudian prisoners can already be sent abroad to the UK and Overseas Territories, according to the Deputy Governor.

But discussions between Bermuda and the US Consulate as to whether prisoners can be shipped to American prisons, or flown on American airlines to the Caribbean, have yet to take place.

Earlier this week Premier Ewart Brown announced that convicted criminals may be sent abroad for a tougher jail experience than Westgate offers. Dr. Brown tasked Public Safety Minister David Burch to look at the "overseas transfer of incarcerated persons." Last night Sen. Burch said the Government was specifically looking into US prisons.

Adding that a number of US prisons are willing to take them if governments pay the "right price".

He said: "The idea is that it would be cheaper (than to house them in Westgate.) Asked if Jamaica with its famously tough prisons is in the frame he replied: "Jamaica's got enough of their own. I doubt they want ours."

According to the Denver Post it cost an average of $23,876 to imprison someone in the US in 2005, the most recent year for which figures were available. The cost varied widely between states with Rhode Island spending $45,000 while Louisiana spent $13,000.

In Bermuda it costs $80,000 to incarcerate someone. Yesterday, Government House was asked if discussions have taken place to send local prisoners abroad, and if the UK accepted prisoners from its dependent territories.

Acting Governor David Arkley said: "There are existing legal mechanisms in place which permit the transfer of prisoners to other Overseas Territories or to the UK if required. The legal, technical and financial aspects of any other schemes would have to be resolved satisfactorily and further discussion is required on the issue."

US Consulate spokeswoman Astrid Black was asked similar questions, if discussions had happened and if the US would allow overseas prisoners into their corrections facilities.

She said: "The Premier has not approached the US Consul about accepting Bermudian prisoners."

At a press conference earlier this week Premier Dr. Brown said: "There were some glitches and hurdles some years ago when we first looked into it. But we want to take a fresh look at that to see whether that will assist us in our present predicament."

He went on to explain: "Our prison has, I don't know whether it's justly or unjustly, been accused of being less than a prison. And we often hear people in the legal community say that prison in Bermuda is not as difficult as it might be in some other locations. And the thought is that some of our people would benefit while incarcerated in other jurisdictions."

Dr. Brown did not go into further detail and declined to comment yesterday.