- IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Tower Street Correctional facility in downtown Kingston, one of the maxiumum security prisons.
Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
BLOODTHIRSTY AND disgruntled family members, still rocked by the brutal slayings of their loved ones, have been taking the law into their own hands by paying prisoners to kill other prisoners in the island's penal institutions.
Sources close to the prison system tell The Sunday Gleaner that this sophisticated form of vigilante justice, available to those who can afford it, is taking root because the death and life sentences levied against the perpetrators have not appeased the wrath of the many family members and friends whose loved ones lives were callously snuffed out.
A QUESTION OF VENGEANCE
This burning desire for retribution is exacerbated by the fact that those sentenced to death are unlikely to swing from the hangman's noose, because no condemned person has been hanged in almost 20 years, despite the majority calling for an end to the extended sabbatical.
"It is a question of vengeance and taking the law into their own hands ... meting out their own justice," one source explained.
It has not been ascertained how much is the bounty being placed on the head of the prisoners, or how the perpetrators inside the prisons collect or benefit from the blood money.
The sources revealed that two inmates on death row narrowly escaped death last year after family members of their victims placed a hit on their heads.
"The persons were on death row for murder and attempts were made on their lives, both of them were injured with improvised instruments," the source revealed.When contacted, Major Richard Reese, commissioner of corrections, told The Sunday Gleaner that his administration has 'wind of the situation' but are yet to confirm it. "We have information of one such incident that we are investigating, which resulted in two inmates being attacked but we have not been able to confirm if this is so," said Commissioner Reese.
Major Reese revealed that his administration has taken steps to protect the inmates, whom he confirmed were on death row at the time of the attacks. However, because of grave security concerns, Major Reese said he could not release details of the measures implemented.
VIGILANCE AGAINST ATTACKS
Major Reese revealed that attacks of this nature are "not uncommon in penal institutions worldwide." However, he pledged to be vigilant in preventing contract killings from taking root in the nation's penal institutions. "It is something we are monitoring closely ... we investigate every incident to determine the cause, whether it is domestic or from external parties," emphasised Major Reese.
He had strong words of warning for the persons allegedly involved in the awarding of money for the killing of inmates. "It is a breach of the law and they themselves could be convicted for committing a crime. They are putting themselves in problem," he stated.
