Correctional officers doused with urine

Some female correctional officers at the Horizon Remand Centre are afraid for their lives because of constant attacks from juveniles being housed at the facility.

A letter was anonymously sent to the newspaper signed 'concerned one' and outlined that officers were frequently under attack. "Female juveniles at the institution damage correctional officers every day by attacking an officer with makeshift weapons and inflicting wounds on both 'remandees' and an officer," the letter said.

The letter also said the attacks are so bad that one correctional officer was beaten to the point where she lost her six week old baby. However, Major Richard Reese, head of the corrections department, said he was not aware of this case.

THE STAR understands that there are 14 girls, between the ages of 12 and 17, from the Armadale Juvenile Correctional Centre in St. Ann being housed at the remand centre.

In a major incident at the facility, on January 10, 2008, juveniles broke down a metal door in one of the dorms, and during a violent tussle with officers, they threw faeces and urine at the officers.

immediate attention

The letter also said that officers are also upset because they were told by the Deputy Commissioner of Custodial, who is in charge of the section, that they must temper the use of force in restraining the girls. The officers warn that things could become dangerous if the problems do not receive immediate attention. "Mr. Prime Minister, Minister of National Security, we want justice and immediate, urgent intervention. Officers cannot work under this condition. Officers are stressed out every day," the letter said.

"Blood a go run, people a go dead and prevention is better than cure. Mischievous juveniles must be removed from the Horizon Remand Centre," the letter added.

Commissioner Reese said the problems at the facility are being addressed. He argues that the problem is that the correctional officers are upset because they were barred from using force immediately after the incident on January 10.

He said he instead instructed that pepper spray be used and that it was done and control was restored to the area. "We are not saying they are not violent, but force should only be used when necessary and as little as possible," he said.

As for those officers hurt in the incident, he said they were sent on sick leave and some have begun to receive counselling to deal with the psychological impact.

He said several things have been and are being put in place to tackle the problem including retrofitting the dorm so that the girls are segregated in their individual living areas.

He said, in addition, 307 members of the staff, 176 of whom are correctional officers, are being trained to deal with problem children, and that officers at the Horizon Remand Centre are to begin their training shortly.

A rotation system is also to be implemented so that officers do not have to endure the stressful situation for long periods of time.