Vexed Bermoothes

The Bermuda Sun reported last week that the island’s prisons have been operating without a single full-time psychologist for most of the last year.

That’s astonishing. No wonder our penal system has a revolving door for many young people.

Craig Clarke, head of the Prison Officers Association, said that the Government was paying too much attention to the “front end” of the criminal justice system (the police, courts, and incarceration) and not putting enough resources into the “back end” (rehabilitation in prison and help rebuilding offenders’ lives on the outside.)

If we are serious about reducing recidivism, we need to help break the negative patterns that entrap many of these kids. That means extensive counseling (both psychological and drug) as well as opportunities for education.

For years we’ve had lots of talk and hired consultants to advise us on combating gangs … but it appears that some of the basics of rehabilitation are not being addressed.