The Fiji Corrections Service says there is a need to review the provisions of Clause 7(1)(b) in the Criminal Records Bill regarding the rehabilitation of inmates.
While making submissions to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, Fiji Corrections Service Manager Legal Assistant Superintendent of Corrections Samisoni Naba says that under the current legal framework, the rehabilitation period is 10 years.
He says they are submitting that this be reduced to five years, and that the sentence imposed be reduced from 30 months to four years.
Naba says there are three phases of rehabilitation offered, which include the disciplinary programme, treatment programme, and upskilling programmes where prisoners undertake labour.
He says that last year, more than 36 inmates undertook programmes, with two batches of prisoners completing the cabinet-making certificate programme offered by the Fiji National University.
Naba says the programme was paid for by the Corrections Service, and inmates were able to attain the certificate after completing their practical work and examinations, which were carried out within the vicinity of the Naboro Corrections compound.
He adds that another recommendation is for the Permanent Secretary or a committee to be established under the Act to make assessments of applications on a case-by-case basis.
The Manager Legal says such assessments should be guided by defined criteria, which can also include a good conduct report from the officer in charge of the Corrections Centre the prisoner is being discharged from.
He says this will give a fair idea to either the Permanent Secretary or the committee on the different rehabilitation programmes, especially the treatment programmes, that were offered to the particular applicant.
