The Ministry for Home and Parliamentary Affairs considers that the entry into force of the Restorative Justice Act is a major step in the right direction for the prisoners within the Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF), as well as society in general. It is noted with satisfaction that Mid-dlam ghad-dawl, a key Non-Governmental Organisation promoting the introduction of parole in Malta, is recognising that this is now in place.

“The entry into force of the Restorative Justice Act means that those inmates eligible to apply for parole may now do so. In fact, a substantial number have already lodged their application. The Offender Assessment Board and the Parole Board are in the process of being formally set up. In this regard, legal notices regulating the respective boards will be published in the Government Gazzette tomorrow. All parole applications received so far are already being referred for assessment by the Care and Reintegration Unit within CCF,” the Ministry said.

“The background work leading to such an assessment by the Board is, as a matter of fact,” the Ministry continued, “already being conducted, given that the Care and Reintegration Unit has already been making the necessary preparations for the introduction of parole a few months back. The documentation being prepared by the Care and Reintegration Unit will form the basis for the assessment by the Offender Assessment Board, just as foreseen by the Act.”

“The Offender Assessment Board therefore already has the necessary tools with which to work, on the basis of which it can assess whether the inmate in question has actively worked towards change for his eventual reintegration into society. The Parole Board, which is the body taking the decision on whether parole should be granted or not, would therefore be in a position to take an informed decision on each individual inmate who applies for parole consideration.”

The Ministry said that “further to the abovementioned developments, other initiatives have been undertaken, including the appointment of three managers, respectively responsible for Security, Operations and Care and Reintegration, as well as the recruitment of an Education Coordinator. In this regard, it is to be noted that additional educational and vocational opportunities are now available at CCF, and that inmates are showing an increased interest in these courses. These facts also attest to the preparedness of CCF for the introduction of parole, given that participation in educational programmes is a very important component for parole consideration.”

Presently inmates from CCF are also taking part in a project being undertaken in partnership with the London Shakespeare Workout, which involves participation in a play being performed at St James Cavalier Theatre. Another drama project in partnership with St James Cavalier is also underway. These initiatives amply demonstrate that CCF is not only prepared for the introduction of parole, but is also undertaking additional projects to what is strictly and minimally required.

“With regard to the information aspect, it can hardly be argued that no information has been disseminated. It is to be recalled that the publication of the Restorative Justice Act was preceded by a White Paper back in February 2009 and a public consultation process, which involved the participation and contribution by key NGOs and other stakeholders. Members of the public and certain inmates themselves took part in the consultation process,” the Ministry said.

“Moreover, an information session about parole as part of the consultation process was delivered to a group of inmates prior to the publication of the Act. During this information session it was explained that parole would be subject to the condition that the inmate would have actively worked towards it, including by means of participation in educational and vocational training, as well as in rehabilitative programmes where necessary,” the Ministry said.

“The Act itself makes it amply clear that parole is subject to such conditions, and that the Boards responsible would assess whether such conditions have in fact been met by the individual inmates. Moreover, the information session in question also spelled out that release on parole is subject to conditions that would be imposed by the Board in each individual case. Serious failure to comply with such conditions may lead to readmission to CCF. Parole is therefore clearly not an amnesty, nor is the new remission procedure introduced by the Act.

Furthermore, remission will no longer be awarded exclusively for ‘good behaviour’, as the inmate would also have to follow his care plan to earn remitted days.

Pursuant to information sessions already held, further detailed information sessions for inmates would be held in order to set out the workings of the Restorative Justice Act, in particular parole,” the Ministry concluded.

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