A number of changes are set to take place, including structural ones, at the Corradino Correctional Facility to help support inmates with a disability who are currently serving a sentence and for those who may end up serving time in future.

This was announced by the chairman of the National Commission Persons with a Disability (KNPD) Oliver Scicluna along with new Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela and Parliamentary Secretary Justyne Caruana at the CCF this morning.

Mr Scicluna emphasised that the commission is there to ensure rights of persons with a disability are safeguarded, and inmates who have physical or mental issues are no exception.

He said the commission will be conducting an audit and also training staff on how to deal with inmates with a disability. This, he said, will lead to a more accessible facility.

Mr Abela said that two ramps have already been installed at the facilities to help make accessibility easier for inmates with a physical disability. Currently, there are seven inmates with a disability. He said that those persons who are obese are also being encouraged to participate in physical activities since this is also considered as a disability.

Mr Abela said that those with mental health problems also need to be given their dignity since inmates serving an effective prison sentence may lead to their mental health to further deteriorate.

Dr Caruana said that her secretariat’s role is to get various stakeholders on board to discuss issues tied to persons with a disability and implement the necessary changes.

She said that the persons with a disability document policy launched recently was already being implemented, evidence of which is this move to implement changes to support inmates with some form of disability or another.

The prisons director said that certain changes will include sanitary ware and cells which cater for inmates with a disability.