Colonel Alex Dalli will be given a "different role", Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri has announced - but he failed to say exactly what, and where, that role will be, despite being questioned over the matter by journalists.

Dalli was removed from his role as CEO of the Correctional Services Agency after the death of the 13th inmate under his watch, and replaced - in a temporary capacity - by Robert Brincau. Brincau will now be remaining in charge of the agency, Camilleri said.

Camilleri persisted on the notion that during the years, the prison has seen valued progress through Dalli’s decisions, and that these decisions cannot be disregarded.

“There must be transparency, we cannot forget the progress which was done,” he said. Camilleri added that it is not only him saying this, but it is also being said by the Auditor General as well as the inquiry board.

Asked by the media about who is to hold responsibility regarding the number of suicides in the prison, Camilleri replied vaguely that the “people responsible are those who allowed for the prison to become a jungle.” He added that whenever there was a suicide, there was always an investigation.

The Malta Independent asked the minister if the inquiry tackled matters of bullying in the prison, to which Camilleri replied that there will be more “transparent systems,” as well as the checks and balances systems which was recommended by the board of inquiry.

On a question about the problem of limited space within Corradino, Camilleri said that two decisions have been taken following the increase in population at the prison.

The first of these is the introduction of electronic tagging which was presented in Parliament, where those sent to prison with minor offences of sentences of a year or less can carry out the sentences outside of prison. He added that this would not include offences such as acts of domestic violence or crime against minors.

The second solution would be the new rehabilitation centre which will be built within the facility, accommodating 140 prisoners with separate wings according to the crime, in attempt to reform the individual as best as possible.

Camilleri was speaking after a press conference where he announced the recommendations drawn up by a board which was looking into the Corradino Correctional Facility.  He was fielding questions from journalists, which were not aired as part of the press conference.

This internal inquiry into prison operations was initiated after an inmate, Colin Galea, was found dead in his cell prison, after taking his own life. 

The conclusions of the inquiry report were introduced by minister Camilleri by him comparing the prison today with the same 10 years ago, where he highlighted the significant progress and improvement done since then. He added that at the time, authorities allowed for this system of a “jungle within the prison,” to be permitted.

In contrast, today’s facility promotes an orderly prison for both workers as well as the prisoners in the facility, as without order there would be no rehabilitation, said Camilleri. He acknowledged that today’s system, while being better than the one of 10 years ago, needs to continue to be strengthened.

The inquiry report, led by psychiatrist Anton Grech, Dr George Fenech who works with people with drug problems, as well as Janice Formosa Pace, a criminology academic at the University of Malta, concluded 32 recommendations for the prison which include legislative changes as well as projects which will be completed over a longer period of time.

The first recommendation involves the introduction of a Commissioner for the Protection and Development for Prisoners, who will be working independently to better the prisoners’ rights as well as ensure a proper rehabilitation, said Camilleri. He added that the Commissioner will conduct several inspections as well as review any policies.

Through legislative amendments, the Monitoring Board of the Corradino Corrective Facility will be able to take final decisions rather than be subjected to only giving counsel and suggestions. The Commissioner for the Protection and Development for Prisoners will be able to make requests to the board. The monitoring board will be able to make a final decision even in the situation of disagreement between the commissioner and the director of the facility, said Camilleri.

A new rehabilitation centre, named after Massimiliano Kolbe, will be built within Corradino, and will accommodate 140 prisoners with the focus being on specified rehabilitation according to the person’s needs, said the minister. He added that while centres such as Caritas are doing an excellent job at rehabilitating prisoners, the fact remains that they can only take in a few people.

A new family room outside of the confines of the prison will be introduced so that individuals with a good conduct can meet their families, said Camilleri, particularly to avoid children entering the prison. “We understand that a prison is not an ideal environment for children to visit their relative, and so the family room will be a welcoming location,” said the minister.

In collaboration with MCAST, prisoners will be given a chance to choose to learn or train themselves both academically or regarding craftsmanship at level MQF, Camilleri said. Lecturers at MCAST will be going themselves to give an accredited course to prisoners. This will help prisoners in being more reformed, as well as be more prepared for the working world upon their release, he added.

A small amendment but a significant one, would be that the release hours of prisoners will be changed to be during the day, rather than at night, Camilleri said. Release hours will be between noon and 5pm.

 

“These measures are already being implemented, with some works already starting the initial stages of implementation,” said Camilleri, adding that during the year of 2022, the reforms will all be completed.