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No "comfortable" prison for criminals – Rev. Hoyt

- says Prison is about punishment and also rehabilitation
HM prison is seen by some as a hotel instead of a correctional facility. Photo: VINO/File
Reverend Hoyt. Photo: VINO/File
Reverend Hoyt. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – “Imprisonment when resorted to must be made a genuine punishment if it is to exercise any effect as a deterrent,” charged former police officer Reverend Robert Hoyt.

He was the keynote speaker at the BVI Crime Conference that was held on June 8, 2012 at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, where a number of issues relating to crime in the Virgin Islands (VI) were highlighted.

In a very candid presentation, Reverend Hoyt stated that the moment a prison is made a comfortable place to live in - it becomes useless as a safeguard against the criminal classes.

“This is a fundamental principle. But punishment, although an essential part of imprisonment, is not its only purpose. Imprisonment should also be a preparation for liberty. If a convicted man is as unfit for social life at the expiration of his sentence as he was at the commencement of it, the prison has only accomplished half its work; it has satisfied the feeling of public vengeance [the bloggers] but it has failed to transform the offender into a useful citizen,” he told members of the audience.

Nonetheless, he admitted that preparing an inmate for freedom is a task of supreme difficulty.

According to the Reverend, “For work of this character what is wanted above all is an enlightened staff. It is from civil life the prisoner is taken; it is to civil life, he has to return, and unless he is under the care of men who have an intimate knowledge of civil life, he will not have the same prospect of being fitted into it when he is returned to civilization.”

Just recently on Speak Out BVI, a radio programme, one caller came up with a new name for Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsum Ghut, referring to the penitentiary as “Tortola Hilton Hotel and Resort” since inmates seem to be eating and living better than innocent people in the VI.

“The penalties are not striking terror or fear to the people committing crimes, prisoners at the prison get better food than some of the free and innocent people in Tortola,” said the caller, who noted that those who commit crimes should not be living a reasonable life while in punishment.

16 Responses to “No "comfortable" prison for criminals – Rev. Hoyt”

  • Village Girl (14/06/2012, 08:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    prisons are humans too where is the man of god's compasion????
    • Crank Shaft (14/06/2012, 09:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      What compassion you talking about? Do the criminals have compassion when they're taking lives, have people scared to be in their own homes or scared to even go out for dinner and a movie? No compassion needed! In fact, we should take a page out of China and North Korea's book and stop playing with these people. The criminals are laughing at us. They go to court with all evidence against them for serious charges, they plea not guilty, knowing they're guilty, WHY? Because they know they will get easy bail and the case won't call for another 2-3yrs, so in that time they will be free to commit more crimes and laugh at us. Then, when the case finally calls they plea guilty and have character witnesses, pastors, teachers, old friends speak on their behalf. Then the judge reads a social inquiry and gives them community service and probation. Then what? He's back on the street to wreak havoc, while we sit scared of what can happen next. When they put a machine gun to your head and CRANK IT for a simple gold chain then you might understand what the man saying.
  • LLL (14/06/2012, 10:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Reaons why I pray at home.
  • Notes...... (14/06/2012, 14:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Crank Shaft you hit the nail on the Head..........i am out here trying to live and them up in there getting fat off we tax payers dollars...Prison is Prison the very name says it all........
    • persia (14/06/2012, 16:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      sorry i do-not get his point..is he just repeating the obvious???
  • local man (14/06/2012, 21:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ah born here and should be treated right even if me in prison
  • crucian (15/06/2012, 07:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Obviously a lot of you bloggers have never been @ HMP. My first ever. Prison expeirence was at Balsom Ghut and there is nothing to like about the food. It's not a nice place with not a lot of nice people.
  • cake walk (15/06/2012, 12:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'll do a life sentence in yall HMP before I do a month in anywhere else


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