Prison gets new camera surveillance system, nine months after deadly riot
December 18, 2005
THE Department of Correctional Services unveiled Friday a $1.5 million closed circuit television system at the Tower Street adult prison as a boost to security at the maximum facility, a near nine months after the last riot.
In March, a prison escape resulted in the death of three prisoners and a warder in the accompanying melee, which was staged in a bid to mask the escape bid.
A board of enquiry subsequently found that the response by warders to contain the riot breached procedures and a lack of command and control.
Since then, the prisons have tightened security checks on visitors, whose numbers are contained per visit, and who must register with the prison before access is allowed to inmates. The new closed circuit cameras are meant to enhance surveillance of the prisoners.
"With the closed circuit system, there are a number of cameras, which will allow us to monitor, internally and externally, our situations. For investigative purposes, you can replay what has happened," said prison boss Major Richard Reese. There are plans, he said, to continually upgrade the system.
The riot at the maximum security facility, also known as the General Penitentiary, ended with the death of prison warder Maurice Whittingham, 28, of Horizon Park in Spanish Town, St Catherine, who was shot dead, while three of his colleagues, Wayne Lindsay, Roger Mills and Cleopatrick Blake, and an aftercare officer Carol Clarke were shot and injured.
The prisoners who died were Kamar Cottrell, Richard Harrison and Jeffrey Jones. Jones, the enquiry found, was beaten to death by warders after the riot had been contained.
Correctional Services has since introduced sectionalised fencing in the prison cells, so that each cell has its own contained area. And, the visitors' booth have been restructured to separate the prisoners from visitors.
Reese also told the Sunday Observer that the department has also earmarked teams for emergency response to potentially threatening situations....
Author: Deanna McFarlane
Source: Jamaica Observer
