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FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1992
AMENDMENTS TO PRISON RULES APPROVED
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THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO PRISON RULES CONCERNING THE USE OF MECHANICAL CONSTRAINTS AND THE REMOVAL OF PRISONERS FROM ASSOCIATION WITH OTHERS IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE AMENDMENTS WERE MAINLY TECHNICAL IN NATURE AND WERE AIMED AT TIDYING UP THE RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND CLARIFYING EXISTING PROVISIONS IN THE PRISON RULES.
THE PRISON (AMENDMENT} RULES 1992 PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF MECHANICAL RESTRAINTS ON PRISONERS IN LEGAL CUSTODY OUTSIDE A PRISON.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID EXISTING RULES ALLOW FOR THE USE OF HANDCUFFS TO ENSURE THE SAFE CUSTODY OF PRISONERS "DURING REMOVAL".
THERE IS HOWEVER DOUBT AS TO WHETHER THIS COVERS WHEN A PRISONER IS TAKEN OUT OF AN INSTITUTION AND KEPT PLACE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE SUCH AS MEDICAL TREATMENT OR IN COURT.
THE PERIOD IN ANOTHER ATTENDANCE
"DURING THESE TIMES HE MAY NEED TO BE HANDCUFFED FOR SECURITY REASONS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID, ADDING THAT IT WAS ARGUABLE IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES WHETHER THE PRISONER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REMOVED.
THE AMENDMENT IS TO ELIMINATE THIS DOUBT AND TO CLARIFY THAT HANDCUFFS MAY BE USED FOR THE SAFE CUSTODY OF ANY PRISONER WHILST UNDER LEGAL CUSTODY.
ALSO,
EXISTING PRISON RULES DO NOT PROVIDE FOR THE REMOVAL OF PRISONERS FROM ASSOCIATION WITH OTHERS EVEN WHERE SUCH REMOVAL IS CONSIDERED DESIRABLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE.
A NEW PRISON RULE IS INTRODUCED TO EMPOWER A SUPERINTENDENT ΤΟ ARRANGE FOR A PRISONER TO BE SEGREGATED FOR NOT MORE THAN 72 HOURS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF GOOD ORDER OR DISCIPLINE OR IF IT IS DEEMED TO BE IN THE PRISONER'S OWN INTEREST.
"ANY FURTHER REMOVAL WOULD NEED TO BE BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES. EACH ORDER WOULD BE FOR A PERIOD OF NOT MORE THAN ONE MONTH, SUBJECT TO RENEWAL THEREAFTER FROM MONTH TO MONTH.
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"ON EACH RENEWAL, THE PRISONER CONCERNED MUST BE NOTIFIED OF THE REASONS AND CAN MAKE REPRESENTATIONS ΤΟ THE COMMISSIONER, HE SAID.
A BOARD OF REVIEW IS TO BE APPOINTED IN EACH PRISON TO KEEP UNDER REVIEW THE PROGRESS OF ALL PRISONERS REMOVED FROM ASSOCIATION AND то MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO THEIR SUITABILITY FOR CONTINUED REMOVAL OR TO BE RETURNED TO ASSOCIATION.
/ANY PRISONER