Prisoners 'must be better prepared' to face life outside

An organisation that looks after prisoners' welfare has appealed for reforms to better prepare inmates once they leave prison.

Chris Bartolo, 28, of Sta Luċija, was found dead by his father on March 28 after serving eight months in prison for theft.

Mid-Dlam għad-Dawl said such a human tragedy raised many questions about what was happening within the walls of Corradino Correctional Facility.

In spite of the good work that prison directors and workers did, it was evident that the system was failing inmates rather than reforming them. Overcrowding had become a problem and, for the first time, there were instances of two prisoners sharing a cell.

It was up to the authorities to concentrate their energy on the prison's day-to-day running. Evidence also showed that there was a need for more rehabilitation programmes. This was the only way that the prison system could become correctional, the NGO insisted.