Certificates and awards were presented to inmates who worked at improving their interpersonal skills, and who took advantage of behaviour modification and drug-education sessions.

In her remarks during a recent informal ceremony at Her Majesty’s Prison Northward, the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs’ Acting Chief Officer Kathryn Dinspel-Powell said, “To see you functioning well in society would be the best indicator that we’re doing our job successfully. We have a responsibility to prepare you for the way forward, so you don’t come back here.”

The event recognised prisoners who completed training and self-improvement programmes. Representatives of each of the organisations involved in the training, as well as the Governor’s Office, were also present.

Self-enhancement opportunities are offered on an ongoing basis at the institution in areas such as education, technical-vocational training, as well as stress- and anger-management.

The intervention groups involve prison staff as well as external agencies such as Cayman Against Substance Abuse (CASA) and the Department of Community Rehabilitation (DCR).

“This is a landmark occasion. You worked hard, you were sincere and you tried to pull out all that’s good in you,” DCR’s Senior Probation Officer Sonia Wallace told the inmates.  She encouraged the men to “test yourselves as you strive to accomplish positive things in life”.

Prison Director Dwight Scott also congratulated the men for allowing themselves “to be exposed to this restructuring process”.  He noted that there are processes and resources to help them, and encouraged the inmates to submit themselves, and to reflect on three questions: “How did I end up here? Where am I going? and, How can I change my course?”

Speaking of the sentence-planning regime, the prison’s Forensic Psychologist Davina Aidoo said that rehabilitation is dependent on the interest and involvement of each inmate: “The objective is reducing recidivism, by addressing interpersonal-issues which need attention.”

Other services include twice-weekly Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Job-placement and rehabilitative programmes are also available at the female prison, HM Prison Fairbanks.

Deterrent measures also underway include making presentations to local high school students.

“You participated and completed the courses, which says a lot!” added DCR Director Teresa Echenique-Bowen. “There’s always room to grow and change, and that’s what these sessions are all about.” She encouraged them to take advantage of support-group sessions, and to be role models to other inmates, saying, “No one canbetter facilitate these sessions than inmates who have been through them.”

The inmates who completed CASA’s anti-drug training were also commended by CASA’s Director Dr. Linda McField. “If your behaviour is to change, your attitudes first have to,” she advised. “Drug abuse continues to be a very common social ill. This is in spite of the education and preventative measures, and the many opportunities to develop lifestyles which will neutralise the attraction of drugs.”

The inmates completed the Interpersonal Relationship Enhancement and Awareness Programme and the Stress Management Programme. The Stress Management Programme is a 12-15 week initiative which enables participants to explore their personal experiences of stress, then identify and develop sustainable coping strategies and action plans.

The Interpersonal Relationship Enhancement and Awareness Programme is comprised of 14 psycho-educational sessions which help participants to explore themselves, improve communication and relationship skills, while enhancing their understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships.

Encouraging the inmates, Senior Probation Officer Lisa Malice added, “Use the time here to do self-exploration, so you can grow and improve your overall circumstances and build on your relationships with others.”