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Prisons Department
121.
The year has not been an casy one for the Prisons Department.
In addition to what might be described as extra-curricular duties
icular
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connected with Vietnamese refugees and illegal immigrants, there has
been a 3.4% increase in the penal population, the total muster now
standing at about 7,000. The problems of these increased demands have
been compounded by staff shortage with vacancies running at 12% in the
officer grades and 15% in the rank and file.
122.
In
Nevertheless high standards are being maintained.
detention centres 94.6% of inmates have not been reconvicted in the
twelve months following release. Similarly the extension in May 1980
to other young offenders of statutory supervision for up to 12 months
following discharge has produced most encouraging first results although
Wit is too early to draw firm conclusions. At the same time the prison
industries have successfully continued to expand and diversify.
123.
train.
A comprehensive review of our prisons legislation is in
Proposals are being put to Executive Council for a number of
amendments to the Frison rules to bring them in line with modern penal
practice and a Bill to amend the Prisons Ordinance will be submitted
to this Council during this session.
The Garrison
124.
When I spoke about the Garrison last year we were on the
point of entering into negotiations with the Ministry of Defence over
a new Defence Costs Agreement. Aftor some tough but fair bargaining,
a new Agreement was reached. It came into effect on 1st April, 1981,
and is to run for seven years.
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