For nearly sixty years now, a close collaboration has existed between the Prisons Service and the Ministry of Education for the organisation of an educational service for the benefit of the detainees. In fact, some teachers at Primary level were posted to the penal institutions in order to teach the rudiments of reading, writing and arithmetic to detainees. Obviously, that was done according to the pupil's aptitudes, his level of learning, his needs and expectations.
The Prisons Service provides therefore, an education which will fit both the young and adults detainees in the different institutions. The program designed for the young ones is more academic as it is in line with the program of the primary education. In fact, its main objective is to allow them to take part in the exams of the end of primary education. Many children have succeeded in these exams.
The educational programme prepared for the adults is in line with the content of the functional teaching programme. This programme is orientated towards the acquisition of knowledge and aptitudes which will allow the learner to integrate in the society where he is living.
Religious practices as reflected in our society, play an important role in the life of both male and female detainees in the Mauritian Prisons. Adherents of the main religions existing on the island (Hinduism, Christianity, Islam) have their places of worship within the prison, whereas those detainees of other religious beliefs are also followed by their respective ministers.
The detainees' faith is recorded in their penal records upon admission to prison. Whenever an urgent need arises, they can request the presence of a religious representative who may visit them after normal visiting hours. Religious books and literature are also provided. The detainees attend moral instruction classes dispensed by different religious representatives.
In their messages, the different religious representatives are always emphasising on the link which exists between their religious activities in the various penal institutions and the necessity to facilitate the detainees' rehabilitation in society.
(b) Religious Practices
The prison administration allows certain facilities to the detainees in the practice of their religions. In this way, Tamil detainees, may fast for the feast of 'Govinden' in September whereas Hindus may do the same to celebrate the holy night of 'Shivaratree' in February and the birth of 'Lord Ramachandra' in April; the two groups being subjected to vegetarian diet. The pandit (hindu priest) delivers lectures on the Bhagavat Gita and the Ramayana emphasising on the moral and social aspects of these holy books.
The Roman Catholic detainees participate in mass and they have formed a chorus group for the musical aspect of religious function. This has a symbolical value for the detainees who realised that after their liberation, they would be able to re-organise their own lives.
Those of Muslim faith are provided with the required equipment to practice their religious rites. During the month of Ramadan, they receive a light meal in the early morning and another one in the evening after the end of the fast.
(c) Religious Education provided to Juveniles
Juveniles detained in penal institutions are also assisted by religious representatives. Young Christians attend catechism classes and benefit from the necessary formation in view of receiving the Eucharist on their first Holy Communion. They are seen attending church on Sunday when the young Hindus go to temple, whereas young Muslims attend Mosque on Friday.
The authorities put emphasis on the importance for the juveniles to leave the premises of the Rehabilitation Youth Centre and the Correctional Youth Centre for their religious practices. As such, they are seen together with the general public in their respective places of worship. The principal idea behind this practice is to keep the juveniles in contact with the external society; which has a positive effect upon their moral and the process of re-integration.
A significant number of detainees have various health problems owing to the fact that they come from the lower social classes.
In the context of our programme concerning the total rehabilitation of the individual, the philosophy of "a sound mind in a sound body", finds all its importance here.
(a) Health Care workers
In order to improve the physical and mental well being of the detainees, a team of health-care workers provides round the clock service. The team comprises two full time medical officers, one dental surgeon and thirty-four qualified nurses including five female nurses.
(b) Medical Treatment
On admission to the prison, every detainee is seen by the doctor who assesses the detainee's general health. The same process is observed when he is released. During his period of detention, whenever the need arises, the detainee can be seen by the doctor at the Prison hospital for any health problem. In addition, detainees requiring specialist treatment are referred to public hospitals or even in other countries where appropriate treatment is offered.
The Prison health service is also responsible to supervise the daily diet of detainees and to make appropriate recommendations.
The service is also equipped with a dental clinic where various treatments relating to dental care are provided, namely, extraction, scaling, x-ray and minor surgery.
It can be inferred that the provision of medical services in our prisons is consistent with the Standard Minimum Rules for the treatment of offenders adopted by the United Nations Congress.
During their detention, detainees have the opportunity to learn different trades. On admission to the prison, the administration include in their files information regarding their aptitudes and vocational knowledge. They are then channelled to the various sectors of activities existing within the service. Those who have no particular knowledge, have the opportunity to choose a trade which suits them most. They can therefore acquire such knowledge in a specific field as to allow them to choose a job later.
Printing, tailoring, carpentry, woodwork, masonry, metal work, shoemaking, basketry, gardening, tin-smith and bakery are some of the sectors in which the detainees have the possibility to improve themselves.
These different trades are under the responsibility of officers who have followed training courses dispensed by the "Industrial and Vocational Training Board", a national organisation responsible for vocational training.
Moreover, the Prison Administration concentrates all the attention required to the training of young delinquents. Their early age and their alertness predispose them to study and training.
Apart from facilitating the detainees' integration in society, all these vocational activities, contribute to the production of the Prison Service. As such, those employed in Tailoring workshop make up the officers' uniforms, the cabinet-makers manufacture some furniture, while those working in the Printing workshop produce the necessary stationery to be used within the service.
The objectives of the regular training and the detainees' activities are:
Sports have always played an important role in prisons. Quite early, their function as an effective means of control and rehabilitation has been recognised. Obviously when we realise that hundreds or rather thousands of human beings have to be kept by force, against their will, within the limited space of four walls, we can understand the difficulties this problem of containment represents. Sports therefore help considerably to burn pent-up energies and ease tensions in our prisons.
The practice of sports in the Mauritian penal world has been greatly influenced by the history of the country. There is no evidence to show that any sort of sports existed in the prisons during the Portuguese and French periods. The British, however introduced sports to prisoners both as a means of entertainment and control. Ever since, sports have developed and have become an important activity in all the institutions of the Prisons Service. Disciplines like football, volley ball, basket ball, athletics, judo and boxing are very popular among detainees.
Certain disciplines like football and volley ball are common to all institutions. However, judo and La Boxe Educative are practised only by the youngsters of the Rehabilitation Youth Centre. Introduced some five years ago, the Centre has produced some top boxers who are now doing well at the national level. There is no doubt that they will soon find their way through international competitions. The interesting thing is that once released from the institution, they have not come back.
In the field of judo, many boys and girls have been trained. A few of them have won gold, silver and bronze medals at national bouts. At least one girl has been selected in the national team.
The experience at the Rehabilitation Youth Centre has encouraged Prisons administration to use sports on a wider scale in the treatment and rehabilitation of adult detainees. When it was found that nearly 85% of the Prisons' population were either directly or indirectly connected with drug problems, the Prisons Service set up the Lotus Centre inside the Central Prison. Detainees are not forced to be enrolled at the Lotus Centre. They are given a free choice. For that, they have to make an application to the authority. Their application is considered by a Board.
Once admitted to the Lotus Centre, the detainee has to follow the complete programme. In this programme, a lot of emphasis is placed on physical exercises and sports. The logic behind is that the drug addict must first be made to regain both his physical and mental health. Afterwards, he is made to follow a comprehensive multi-disciplinary programme based on the psycho-social needs of the person. Sports continue to play an important role as they are effective tools to teach a drug-addict self-discipline and self-empowerment.
The above is a very brief account of how sports are used in the treatment of drug addicts. It is to be noted however that sports are also being used in other institutions to help revalorise their self-image and build up healthy relationship.
