A call from Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley for an effective parole system to be set up has the support of a former top cop.
In fact, retired deputy commissioner of the Royal Barbados Police Force, Bertie Hinds maintained that it was long overdue.
Hinds’ comments were made during an interview with the SATURDAY SUN after a panel discussion on domestic violence, held at Mount Zion Mission, Rock Dundo, St James on Thursday night.
Hinds, who is presently employed as a consultant criminologist in several countries across the region, asserted that Barbados should use all applicable modern penal practices that could reduce the high recidivism rate.
According to him, a parole system could potentially do just this. But having said that, Hinds asserted that there must be a targeted public education programme to stamp out the cultural belief that once imprisoned, people are not fit for society.
“So we have to muster public education. This is governmental philosophy and policy, enunciate it, discuss it, let the public deal with it, let the press highlight it. It must be a continuous discussion and it will allay some of the fears of some of the people in our society,” he said.
Having more than four decades of policing under his belt, Hinds maintained a parole system could work “easily” because as long as there is a good rehabilitative for reintegration programme, trained programme officials can track signs and progress, thus making a determination as to whether the incarcerated person is ready to return to society.
Hinds said once certain requirements were met and the individual was released early, they should be put on a set probationary period. If the terms of the release were breached the individual would be returned to prison to complete the remaining or any additional time.
Hinds, the former deputy executive officer of the Regional Security System contended there should be a transitional programme set up outside of prison to continue the rehabilitative process started on the inside.
Suggesting that half way houses were not the solution as they would cause further stigmatization of the individual, Hinds proposed a good Samaritan type approach where different members of the community could welcome one of these persons into their home.
“In addition to gainful employment because they accrue a lot of skills when they get into prison but they come out and need work. It can be done at the Governmental level but it must be a comprehensive approach to receive those persons when they come out . . . There must be a system and mechanism outside for one to [fit] back into society as normal.”
Hinds emphasised that in a small society like Barbados it will be difficult to reintegrate and so all attempts to reform an individual in prison must be supported by programmes on the outside. (SDB Media)