While it’s good to have an opinion, people sometimes tend to judge much too easily. The latest example regards initial reactions to last week’s news that caretaker Justice Minister Rafael Boasman was considering rebuilding St. Maarten’s prison.
Several readers were critical, saying that other things such as schools and the hospital should be given more priority. However, one does not have to exclude the other.
In addition, without personally witnessing or being accurately informed about the current situation inside the penitentiary at Pointe Blanche and the required repairs, it is hard to determine the need for such a project. As one person pointed out, those walls are there to protect society from criminals and public safety is very important.
However, it’s not just about keeping detainees securely locked up. Jails are also called “correctional institutions” because they supposedly should try to rehabilitate inmates too, so their behaviour that landed them in a cell may hopefully change.
That aspect requires adequate means to be successful. When proper facilities for such are sorely lacking the chances of first-time convicts becoming repeat offenders only increase.
The latter then ends up being an added burden to local law enforcement, including the prison itself. If constructing a whole new complex is what will help create less of a “revolving door” justice system, the investment might well be worth it.
