Judiciary must address overcrowding at Georgetown jail - human rights group Guyana Chronicle October 19, 2000 INCIDENTS this week at the Georgetown jail show that overcrowding there has to be addressed urgently, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) said yesterday. It noted that the death of prisoner Michael Ramcharran at the hand of another inmate, reportedly after an altercation, followed another rooftop demonstration by prisoners protesting delays in trial hearings. "Both incidents point to the need to urgently address the issue of overcrowding in the Camp Street prison. This is squarely a matter for the judiciary to deal with", it said. The GHRA argued that each repeated rooftop demonstration, escape or violent incident, "further erodes the morale of the understaffed and overworked Prison Service." "Apparently a new prison is in the pipeline, but until it is up and running, emergency measures are required to reduce the prison population at the central prison", it said. The association said that it had over the years called for alternative sentencing for minor offences, arguing that the lack of a coherent sentencing policy contributes to overcrowding and a breakdown of efficiency. "Magistrates, however, display a marked reluctance to use their discretionary powers in this regard. "Moreover, the Director of Prisons should also consider wider use of his powers of recommending early release, particularly in the case of prisoners who are ill and have served most of their sentence", the group said. Furthermore, it added, many prisoners have recently complained about the virtual non-functioning of the Parole Board. "Removing the incentive to good behaviour which parole offers in an overcrowded prison is extremely short-sighted", the GHRA contended. It suggested that a final measure which the Prison Service should consider is to refuse to accept any more prisoners from the courts on the grounds of adding to the "already indefensible situation." "This has been done in a number of countries, particularly in some states in the USA", the association said. "A mix of all of these measures could immediately impact on the single most serious cause of prison unrest and overcrowding, without the expenditure of a single dollar", it said. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today