In 1969, that is, a year after the accession of Mauritius to its Independence, the Prison Staff Training School came into operation.
The first course, which was a residential one, lasted for six months. Due to the exorbitant expenditure that it entailed, the service decided to provide henceforth non-residential courses.
During the colonial days, the training was very rudimentary. In fact, the newly enrolled recruits were posted on field work where they were left to acquire whatever knowledge they could from their seniors.
(a) The School Cadre
The Training School is manned, viz: 1 Assistant Commissioner of Prisons 2 Principal Officers 4 Prison Officers Grade II (including one Librarian) and 1 Office Supervisor. They organise courses all year round for the newly enlisted officers and the Prison Officers in general.
The aim of the school is to provide physical, technical and professional training to officers of the service.
(b) Courses
The following courses are offered by the Training School: 1. Trainee Prison Officer Course 2. In-Service Development Course 3. Promotional Course 4. Drug Rehabilitation Officer Course 5. Line Managers Course 6. Crash Course for Officers Grade I & II 7. Senior Officer Cadet Course 8. Senior Management Course 9. Modular Course on: (i) Stores Procedures (ii) Kitchen Management (iii) Managerial Skills for Supervisors of Works and Industries (iv) Dog Training (v) Security, Implication of detainees on movement (vi) Computer Studies (vii) Seminars and lectures for Senior Officers
The courses are tailored in order to meet the demand that development in the penal world claimed from the organisation. Their aim is to equip the officers with the necessary tools in order to help them in their supervision of inmates during their detention.
With the aim to contribute towards the rehabilitation of the drug-addicts, whose number continues to increase, the Penal Administration created the Lotus Centre in 1993. This centre, located inside the Central Prison which is a maximum security prison, operated on a trial basis for two years in collaboration with the "Trust Fund for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Drug-Addicts".
The name of the Lotus Centre was proposed by one of the first clients who had the advantage of following this treatment. According to him, the drug-addict emerges from the unhealthy drug-environment similar to the Lotus which emerges from the marsh.
(a) Treatment
The centre, which is headed by a Prison Medical Officer, has recourse to various methods comprising occupational therapy, group therapy, psychotherapy, yoga, meditation, relaxation and chemotherapy in order to allow the drug-addicted detainees to get free from drug addiction.
(b) Activities
The detainees who live communally in this centre, have the possibility to participate in activities leading to the integral development of the individual. The activities aim at the detainees' value and dignity. Moreover, they are not considered as vulgar prisoners but as clients.
(c) Staff
Some fifteen qualified officers and a nurse actually work in the centre which can accommodate a maximum of 25 clients. The function of the Prison Officer has become that of a guide who accompanies the detainees in their goal to lead a drug-free life.
(d) Capacity
The centre has treated over 150 clients. So far, taking into consideration the positive results obtained, the penal administration intends very soon to extend the model to other institutions of the service.
(e) Constraint
The conclusive experience of the Lotus Centre is an evidence that rehabilitation is possible in the prison environment. The penal administration is now considering to look over the existing laws in order to make provision for the admission of other categories of detainees in these rehabilitation centres.
Detainees are allowed to purchase telephone cards and permit calls are made to approved numbers. Telephone facilities are at present available at Richelieu Open Prison, Correctional Youth Centre and at Women Prison during weekdays from 14.00 to 15.00 hours and weekends and public holidays from 08.00 to 12.00 hours.
In 1989, when the Prisons Service was definitely involved in the rehabilitation of the detainees, the administration decided to introduce music within the prison. Is it not true that "music hath charms to soothe the savage beast"? But, in order to introduce music in the process of rehabilitation, it was necessary to have the officers trained first.
It can be affirmed that owing to music, the Prisons Service has made an opening towards the Mauritian public who gets a new vision of the prison. The contribution of music in the process of the rehabilitation of detainees is positive. Music helps them to express themselves, to come out of their shells, to unwind, and even to fulfill themselves.
(a) Prison Officer's Band
It was with the assistance of some musical instruments and the collaboration of six Prison Officers who had some knowledge of music, that the Prison Band was formed. The Band now comprises some twenty-five Officers, playing different wind-instruments. They are often called upon to perform at regional or national level. For the first time, the rather gloomy, tense and sultry atmosphere which prevailed within the prison, disappeared with the sounds of drums, guitars, trumpets and other musical instruments. The Band is playing an important role, not only in projecting a new image of the service, but also in the training and rehabilitation of detainees.
(b) Training and Activities
With the co-operation of Mr. Philippe Gentil, maestro, who composed the national anthem of Mauritius in 1968, the Prison Officers' Marching Band looks promising. Apart from their usual work, the Prison Officers have the opportunity to follow musical courses dispensed by Mr. Gentil.
(c) Fanfare
After the detainees adopted music, the administration looked into the official aspect of ceremonies taking place in the different penal institutions. Therefore, it was in 1990 that the Prison Officers Marching Band was launched. It consists of twenty-five Prison Officers including a lady who acts as drum-major.
The fanfare is present in the passing-out parades of the recruits and other important events taking place at the prison. In 1993, when the country became a Republic, the fanfare was asked to perform during the formal ceremony taking place in Rodrigues Island- island which is dependent of Mauritius. It got a tremendous applause there and immediately on its return to the country, it was very much in demand to take part in parades taking place all around the island, for example, those against drugs and Aids, charity walks, celebrations in connection with music day and the anniversary of the Independence of the country.
The Prison Administration, being on the one hand aware of the importance of computers in management, and on the other hand, of the rapid developments taking place in this sector, set out in April 1994, a program of computerization of its services. This program, being the fruit of a study effected by the "State Informatics Limited"- a parastatal organisation - spread over different phases, was laid down as follows:-
Phase 1- Computerisation of the Administrative Block and the Central Prison.
Phase 2- Computerisation of the other penal institutions. Phase 3- Linking up the Computer System of the service to that of the Judiciary Service and the Police in view of a common action, thus being more effective.
For the time being, Phase 1 is nearly completed and the Prison administration is seriously contemplating to start Phase 2 by the beginning of next year. Moreover, the service is connected to the internet since March 1996. The Commissioner, Mr. Brojmohun, decided to launch the website, thus allowing internet surfers to discover the Prisons Service. A team was involved in the project and all this is the fruit of an assiduous work aiming at presenting the different aspects of the prison.
This avant-gardist project allows the Prisons Service to be more efficient and to better fulfill its purpose as an institution working for the rehabilitation of criminals and delinquents.
In May, 1984, the Standard Minimum Rules for the treatment of criminals and delinquents were adopted by the United Nations Congress. One of the guiding principles of the rules refers to the Pre-Release Scheme which reads as follows:- "Before the completion of the sentence, it is desirable that necessary steps be taken to ensure for the detainee a gradual return to life in society. This aim may be achieved, depending on the case, by a Pre-Release Scheme organised in the same institution."
The Prison Administration, in its plan of actions for the rehabilitation of offenders, has rightly agreed to implement the above rule in January 1990.
The Prisons Service, in close collaboration with the Trust Fund for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts, the Probation Service, the Social Security Department and also the Employment Service have elaborated a part time Pre-Release Program for the benefit of the detainees.
(a) Lectures
The topics of the lectures delivered by these different organisations, are among others: - The Rehabilitation of drug-addicts - Drug Abuse - Aids - Communicable and Non-communicable diseases - Human Values - Family Life Education - Man and his environment - Employment - Nutrition
Video films on various subjects, particularly Drugs and Aids, are being shown to the detainees followed by workshops and discussions.
(b) Aim
The aim of this scheme is to encourage detainees to retain links with their families and the community at large and preparing them for their gradual return to society in a variety of ways and this is, in a very significant manner, strengthening the role of this service in the community.
(c) Philosophy
The philosophy of this scheme is that detainees form part of the community at large and nothing should be done for their exclusion therefrom. Instead, every effort should be made to maintain and strengthen their family ties.
