Tag: Neil Lavis
Prisoners focus on victims to face up to crimes
(CNS): A new initiative towards the rehabilitation of inmates at HMP Northward encourages them to face up to their crimes by interacting with their victims. Based on The Sycamore Tree project in the UK run by Prison Fellowship, a faith-based organisation, the programme within HM Cayman Islands Prison Service is conducted by Prison Chaplain Cathy […]
Custody officer fired in prison probe
(CNS): The prison custody officer who was embroiled in the prison covert video scandal has been dismissed, Eric Bush, the chief officer in the home affairs ministry, has confirmed. Nina White, who was suspected of inappropriate conduct with inmates, has become the latest casualty of the controversial investigation, which began almost one year ago and […]
Visitors arrested over prison smuggling
(CNS): Two people have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling contraband into HMP Northward this weekend after they were found with a phone and drugs on a routine visit to inmates. Prison officials did not say whether or not the two visitors were visiting the prison together, nor did they specify the gender of the accused smugglers. […]
Prison using drones to help stop smuggling
(CNS): Small unmanned drones are now part of the tools used by the prison service to battle the practice of throwing drugs and contraband over the perimeter fence of HMP Northward, and it appears likely that they will also be used in the near future by the RCIPS, especially to help the Joint Marine Unit […]
Director to keep battling for new prison
(CNS): The prison director says it is no secret that HMP Northward is not fit for purpose, and while he will continue to pitch for new facilities, he recognises it’s not a popular option for spending millions of tax payers’ money. However, as a seasoned expert in the prison system, Neil Lavis has made it […]
Prison keeps up fight in face of ‘cellfies’
(CNS): The smuggling of cellphones into HMP Northward remains a constant battle for the prison management as inmates try various ways to stay in touch with the outside world. While smart phones pose a problem to prison security, as they can be used by inmates to organise drug drops and other crimes, such as witness […]
Booze, cigars, drugs and phones hurled over prison fence
(CNS): Five packs of double platinum cigars, over four pounds of ganja, electronics and other contraband was lobbed over the prison fence at HMP Northward this week, officials have revealed. Following intelligence received by prison staff, officers recovered a dozen parcels of booty Monday that included around $4,000 worth of marijuana and rolling papers, as […]
CIG admits prison needs major cash injection
(CNS): Government officials have acknowledged that without significant investment in the infrastructure, the local prison system will keep failing inspections. A follow-up inspection of the Cayman Islands Prison Service and of the custody cells by the UK inspectorate found little improvement in any of the facilities, despite some upgrades since their visit in 2012. In […]
No budget for prisoner release law
(CNS): The government has not made any budget allocation for the prison service to implement the requirement of the new conditional release law that was passed last October, as it is not expected to come into force any time soon. The legislation was meant to pave the way for the structured rehabilitation of offenders before […]
Only three locals make grade for prison jobs
(CNS): In the most recent recruitment drive for the prison service, although there were more than 80 local applicants, the director said he was only able to employ three of them. With a significant number of local applicants failing to turn up for the interview process, more falling at the first hurdle of the written […]
Prison strained by staff suspensions
(CNS Video): Cayman Islands Prison Director Neil Lavis says challenges at the prisons are putting a strain on the service after two officers were dismissed from HMP Fairbanks while three are on suspension from HMP Northward over an internal scandal, at a time when the facility is already short staffed and straining at the seams. In a candid and exclusive […]
