The Young Persons Offenders Unit, (YOURS) was moved from the Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF) yesterday, to Mtahleb where the drug rehabilitation centre known as (SATU), is situated, according to the given timeline, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia announced in Parliament this morning.
There are 17 inmates at YOURS and the CCF section has been in use since 1998.
Dr Mallia said that for over one-and-a-half year under the previous administration, the Mtahleb was not in use although it had the necessary equipment.
An agreement has been reached between the prison and Mepa for a new building besides SATU. The plan is for the relocation to be permanent.
Over €1.1million from the Norwegian fund have been budgeted for the project so far. Meanwhile, the architecture faculty at the University of Malta will be helping out with plans.
The shadow minister for Home Affairs, Jason Azzopardi asked whether the Forensic Unit inmates will be moving to Imtahleb too, Dr Mallia replied that during a visit paid by a ministry representative to the Forensic Unit at Mount Carmel, he found it in a deplorable state. There were uncovered wires, and things which needed more elaborate works.
Consequently, Forensic Unit inmates will be moved to the YOURS section, at the (CCF).
PL MP Carmelo Abela asked on the planned reform on YOURS and regarding educational plans for prison inmates.
In his reply, Dr Mallia said a Director for Prison will be appointed following an external call and later today, the head responsible for education and the prison reform will be announced. He explained this person has several years of experience working at the prison and he will also be tasked with giving the YOURS section a different outlook. A study needs to be carried out to identify which full time and part time courses are necessary, he said.
It is thought that YOURS should be separate from the CCF. The ministry has found quotations for building works which the PN administration was planning and said these were exorbitant. Since the University will be giving help, the project can start.
Dr Azzopardi noted that the YOURS section was to be transferred to a building inDingli and asked why such plans were not taken forward. He also pointed out that some Forensic Unit inmates, are suicidal and therefore asked whether the section they were transferred to at the CCF is well equipped, safe for them and large enough to take all inmates.
Dr Mallia replied Corradino is well equipped and two psychiatrists can oversee the well being of the inmates.
Regarding the envisaged reform and recommendation, he said there are different ideas that can be exercised including regarding the kitchen. Inmates can be trained like at the Institute for Tourism Studies while working and providing foods for others. The playroom building where inmates can meet their family members is almost complete, except for the ceiling.
Tenders are to be issued for the kitchen and the playroom.
He also pointed out that an area will be turned into a small factory to cut certain abuse and at the same time, introduce the culture that in the morning inmates are to go to work.
Vehicles going into prison are being checked properly and security equipment at the entrance is now functional. Dogs will also be trained and stationed in prison.
Dr Mallia also noted that the previous administration had plans for YOURS to move to Dingli and have a similar building in Gharghur. Yet Dr Mallia believes these could be put to better use because they were too large for the existent number of inmates. He insisted the government preferred to use an existent structure, that is ideal and not in use, rather than build new ones.
Dr Mallia is convinced the Mtahleb centre can cater for both YOURS and SATU.
Asked on the prison reform report, Dr Mallia said the first part was presented a couple of weeks ago. The task the reform board had was large so they had to divide this into a number of parts but certain matters, including ones relating to security, were addressed immediately.
It is still being debated whether all vehicles of prison workers should be parked outside the facility. Dr Mallia believes that if these are parked both outside the facility and indoors, it is easier for illicit items to be transferred inside.
Recommendations given so far also concern security in the kitchen, among others. The idea is that the prison, which was neglected for some time, is brought back in shape.