08 December 2016
The Minister for Home Affairs, Deputy Kristina Moore, has lodged Regulations that provide for the establishment, functioning and administration of the new Independent Prison Monitoring Board. The board will replace the current Prison Board of Visitors, which is comprised of Jurats of the Royal Court.
The Regulations represent the next step in fulfilling the recommendation of a report by the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel, ensuring that Jersey complies with the requirements of the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).
Deputy Moore said “The Independent Prison Monitoring Board will be responsible for overseeing the state of the premises at HM Prison La Moye, the administration of the prison and the welfare and treatment of prisoners. Members of the board will make frequent visits to the prison to ensure that prisoners’ human rights are being observed and upheld.”
The Regulations will be debated in the States Assembly on 17 January 2017. It is anticipated that there will need to be a transitional period of a few months to allow for a smooth handover between the existing Prison Board of Visitors and the new Independent Prison Monitoring Board.
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