THE Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) is grappling with significant overcrowding in its prisons, a situation exacerbated by the absence of a functioning parole board.
Commissioner Dr Jalesi Nakarawa recently reported that approximately 890 inmates were presently unable to be released because of legal non-parole periods imposed by the courts.
Dr Nakarawa explained the implications of these non-parole periods, saying that no prisoner in Fiji had been released on parole but the were imposing non-parole periods, which means they cannot be released under parole until that period is complete.
“Even though we haven’t released any one under parole, the act says this non-parole period supersedes remission,” Dr Nakarawa said.
“The commissioner is empowered by law to grant one-third remission of a sentence, this is effectively sidelined by the existing non-parole regulations.”
Dr Nakarawa noted that the Act specifies that non-parole periods supersede remissions, which has resulted in a backlog of inmates who could otherwise be released.
“We are unable to release quite a number of prisoners because of the non-parole period attached to the sentence.”
While Dr Nakarawa also acknowledged that remand prisoners were experiencing a reasonable turnover, he highlighted the urgent need to alleviate the situation for convicted prisoners who remained confined because of the non-parole stipulations.
