A MAN who steals a bunch of bananas may very soon not be subjected to a prison term. Instead, he and other low- to medium-risk prisoners may be punished for the transgression without being locked behind prison bars.

Commissioner of corrections Major Richard Reese says very shortly, his department will be moving in the direction of electronic monitoring of prisoners.

"We are looking to pilot electronic monitoring as well as other non-custodial options," Major Reese tells The Sunday Gleaner.

"I can't say how soon it will begin. We are currently negotiating the contract for the pilot testing of it," he adds.

Electronic tagging, a cost-effective, reliable and robust means of monitoring offenders, has long been advocated as a preferred way in dealing with offenders.

Controlling their actions

The equipment consists of a tag and a monitoring unit. The tag is fitted to the person's ankle and the monitoring unit is located in the home or other place of curfew.

The tag acts as a transmitter and sends signals to the monitoring unit, which in turn sends signals to the control centre. All movements in and out of the home and other activities, such as removal of the tag or tampering with the equipment, are reported to the control centre.

A few steps in the parole process

Inmates serving a sentence of more than 12 months shall be eligible for parole after having served a third of such sentence or 12 months, whichever is greater.

An inmate eligible for parole may make written application to the Parole Board which considers the case and determines if parole is to be granted.

The board grants a parole if it is satisfied that the inmate has derived maximum benefit from imprisonment and if it believes reform and rehabilitation will be aided by parole.

Before the case is considered, a comprehensive process is done whereby the mental state of the prisoner is evaluated. A report on the inmate's behaviour in prison is evaluated.

The board considers whether the release of the prisoner is a danger to society or the inmate himself/herself.

Persons released on parole are assigned parole/probation officers who monitor them.

A person who breaches parole may have his parole revoked by the board pendinginvestigation.