Months after a deadly fire, which killed seven wards of the Armadale Juvenile Centre in St Ann, Commissioner of Corrections June Spence-Jarrett has announced a proposal to construct another facility for girls.

While funding and plans for a start in the construction have not been finalised, Spence-Jarrett said the new facility would have to conform to international regulations.

In particular, Spence-Jarrett spoke to the idea that people charged with offences be held separately from those who are in need of care and protection or deemed uncontrollable.

The issue of having the wards together was also brought out in the commission of enquiry into the deadly inferno. It was revealed that Armadale, which is the only institution for female juveniles, was overcrowded.

In the aftermath of the fire, most of the girls were relocated to Diamond Crest Villa near Alligator Pond, Manchester, and others to the Horizon Adult Remand Centre and Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre.

Spence-Jarrett was speaking at a press briefing yesterday at the Corporate Area Probation Office.

The commissioner also said international regulations dictated that large dormitories should not be used to house more than six children.

Montpelier refurbishing

The plans Spence-Jarrett announced also included the refurbishing of the Montpelier Juvenile Correctional Centre, which will accommodate 240 wards.

The completion of that project would free up the Rio Cobre Juvenile Correctional Centre to make it available for girls.

"We can retrofit and refurbish to meet the needs of the girls until the new facility is on stream," said Spence-Jarrett.

She could not give a date for the expected completion of retrofitting for Montpelier.

kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com