Two lobby groups have renewed their call for the government to take immediate and decisive action to address the severe overcrowding and deplorable conditions in Jamaica’s correctional facilities.
Stand Up for Jamaica (SUFJ) and Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) say the recent influenza outbreak at the Tower Street and St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centres, highlights the systemic failings that have long plagued these institutions, endangering both inmates and staff.
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has suspended visits to all correctional facilities for two weeks in an effort to contain the spread.
The groups say this temporary measure cannot resolve the underlying issue of overcrowding.
They explain that Tower Street and St. Catherine are operating at more than double their capacity, making isolation and quarantine impossible, adding that inmates are forced to endure inhumane conditions, creating a breeding ground for disease and furthering human rights violations.
SUFJ and JFJ say this crisis underscores the urgent need for long-term solutions to protect the health, dignity, and rights of those in state custody.
They have called on the government to take action in four areas to resolve the issues.
Among them, immediate medical interventions to ensure inmates requiring specialized care are transferred to appropriate medical facilities, and adequately equipping correctional facilities with medical supplies and personnel to manage outbreaks.
Policy and advocacy specialist at JFJ Jade Williams, also highlights infrastructure overhaul and sentencing reform.
While commending the DCS and its medical staff for their efforts to manage the outbreak, JFJ and SUFJ say these alone cannot overcome the structural failings of Jamaica’s correctional system.
They say the government must act decisively to prevent similar crises from recurring.
According to the groups, this outbreak is a stark reminder of what happens when long-standing calls for reform go unheeded.
