Corrections department begins vetting potential warders

The Department of Corrections has begun the process of vetting applicants seeking to be employed as warders at Jamaica's correctional centres.
   
Senator Pearnel Charles Jr, State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, said the vetting process is part of a radical overhaul of the Department of Corrections being undertaken by the ministry.
    
Mr. Charles argued that it is aimed at weeding out potential bad eggs seeking to become warders. 
                                                           
"We are looking on the full spectrum that has to do with the recruitment and we have started the polygraphing already of the new recruits, we're looking on protocols to implement that will assist us in defining how best to choose the right persons to promote," he asserted. 
    
Mr. Charles said the overhaul of the Correctional Services will include a push for increased training both locally and internationally.
     
According to Mr. Charles, last year more than 100 Correctional Officers benefited from increased training. Six warders have been selected to journey to the USA to receive further training including the observation of mock riots. 

Illegal calls

In the meantime, the State Minister said the Department of Corrections has restored the mobile jamming equipment in some institutions, and discarded some of the same equipment where necessary.
 
In addition, he said a pilot programme will be started in the institutions with new "cutting edge" technology that the government hopes will be able to alleviate the problem of illegal calls being made from inside prison walls.

Mr. Charles outlined the initatives while speaking on RJR's Hotline programme on Monday.