Home Minister Sheikh Imran have said that the jails in Maldives will meet international standards by 2020.
Speaking to the press about Maldives Correctional Service, the minister said that even though there are laws and regulations on how to treat prisoners, it is not being implemented fully. He said that however by 2020, all those regulations will be complied with and the jails will meet international standards.
He said that in the past one and half months, they have provided many new privileges and comfort to the prisoners and their families. “Family visits has been increased to 2 hours. Even the lawyers can meet at ease now. The conjugal visits has been increased to 24 hours from 12 hours. Previously people on pretrial detention were not given conjugal visits however if someone is in pretrial detention for more than 4 months, then conjugal visits will be provided” said the minister.
In addition he said that to assess the real situation of the prisoners, there are difficulties in accessing the documents, but in few months all the jails will be connected under one system and it will be solved.
Furthermore he said that they are planning rehabilitation programs to ensure that the prisoners will be useful for the society once they complete their sentences.
