Commissioner of Prisons Mohamed Hushaam has said that the perceptions of the jails had changed and that previously, the officers at the jail had paid attention to the criminal acts committed by those who are incarcerated. He said that now officers at the prisons engage in general projects along with the convicts.
Husham made the statement speaking in the graduation ceremony of the officers.
“This is progress for the whole system. I thank all of the officers who had taken part in this great endeavor,” he said.
Husham said that the operational manual for running prisons was implemented last year.
“All procedures of Maafushi jail are now run according to the manual,” he said.
Husham noted that the training academy for prisons employees had now been transformed to an Institute and that the programs are conducted at levels accepted by Maldives Qualification Authority.
Husham said that agriculture and swimming programs are conducted in the Institute in addition to security courses.
“We are now working to conduct degree level classes in Male’ and Maafushi in collaboration with a Malaysian University,” he added.
Husham announced that the MOU for the initiative had already been signed and that the courses can commence in the next two months.
He further revealed that a framework for rehabilitating convicts was being compiled and once completed, the framework will be used to integrate convicts into projects carried out in the jail.
Husham said that various programs were carried out in the past 15 months to develop the human resources of the Service. He added that the civil officers who had graduated today were part of the office employees. He further said that officers have been appointed to all the ranks required in the law enforcement departments, noting that excellent progress had been seen.
Husham noted that the Maafushi prison housed over 800 convicts, with the rehabilitation process proceeding smoothly.
Prisons officers now work on general projects along with convicts: Husham
