Elderly prisoners
71 inmates above 60, sickly, ‘pose no risk’
THE Coalition Government will look into alternative programs for elderly inmates with failing health who pose no risk of re-offending if they are released.
This, according to Attorney-General Siromi Turaga after he toured the Korovou facility of the Fiji Corrections Service yesterday.
He said there were 71 inmates who were above the age of 60.
“One of the concerns that came out today is the number of (inmates) who have serious medical conditions,” Mr Turaga said.
“Some are wearing diapers, some pose no risk if they are released soon.
“How do we deal with them. “The issue should be: should we still keep them in prison, at corrections, or should they be released.”
The A-G said the Corrections Act did not contain specific advisories about serving inmates who developed medical conditions as they aged.
“According to the prisoners, we have nothing within our Act in terms of those with medical conditions.
“So we will try to look at the experiences of those in Australia and New Zealand, where they have those Acts but alternatively, they can be catered through other alternative programs within the frame of the Corrections Act.”
Mr Turaga said the issue needed to be looked at as an alternative option would be for them to be cared for by their families.
“But that’s the issue and we have to explore (alternatives) because we have a good number of 71 who are over 60-plus.
“They wear diapers, they’re cared for so I think the best care can be provided at home, from their families.
“Some of them may even live just a few years. But it’s a human approach because once they’re locked in, justice served its course.”
Mr Turaga said Government would be holding discussions on ways to address this.