HM Prison- Home of the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation

26/12/2023

13/09/2023

TCI Community College TVET Programme Empowers Inmates and Officers with Certifications at His Majesty’s Prison

Five (5) inmates and nine (9) Correctional Officers at His Majesty's Prison have successfully obtained internationally recognised certifications through the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Community College's Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) PLAR programme. This represents 100% passes in the skill areas of Customer Service and Commercial Food Preparation. The individuals are now eligible to receive their Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Level 1 certificates during the upcoming College Graduation exercise. This historic accomplishment marks a significant milestone in the rehabilitation and skills development of incarcerated individuals and capacity building for correctional officers within the Turks and Caicos Islands penal system.

A tri-partite partnership, signed on 17 November 2022, officially brought together the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, His Majesty’s Prison (formerly the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation), and the HJ Robinson High School. Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the entities joined forces to deliver high-quality technical vocational education and training to inmates and officers in recognition of the pivotal role training and skills development plays in the rehabilitation process.

The MOU signing was witnessed by several government ministers, including Hon. Rachel Taylor, Hon. Josephine Connolly, Hon. Otis Morris, Hon. Arlington Musgrove, and Hon. Shaun Malcolm. Senior government and education officials were also present to witness the historic event signaling their intent and commitment to the programme.

Training for this cohort commenced in August 2022 and they sat the PLAR Challenge Exam in February 2023. Aspects of the examinations were proctored virtually and formed the basis for the College to utilise technology to deliver training and assessment to this unique cohort. This intervention provided the benchmark for the TCICC’s success, which earned the team first place in the Blended Challenge at the recently concluded International Conference of TVET within the Caribbean.

“A TVET system is only as strong as the institution that provides the education and training. The tripartite approach to this initiative will indeed provide the relevant rehabilitation for our inmates that will allow them to transition into the labour force and live healthy and productive lives. I look forward to our team providing certification in other areas as the programme progresses. Once again, congratulations to all wardens and inmates and I encourage you to continue to capitalise from the opportunities that presents itself,” expressed Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education.

Hon. Otis Morris, Minister for Home Affairs, Transportation, Broadcasting, Energy and Utilities and Telecommunications Commission, joined in congratulating the trainees on completing this milestone, he continued by stating, “This is a significant achievement that reflects your dedication, hard work, and commitment to your education and career development. As you move forward in your journey, remember that the skills and knowledge you've acquired during this program will be invaluable in your chosen field. Your determination has brought you to this milestone, and I have no doubt that you'll continue to excel in your future endeavours. Best wishes for a bright and successful career ahead! As the minister responsible for the DCR I’m elated to have supported this programme and look forward to it’s continuous success.”

The success of the TVET programme at His Majesty’s Prison depends heavily on the collective efforts of all stakeholders. Dr. Candice Williams, President of TCI Community College, urged employers to value the certifications earned by inmates by offering employment opportunities to those who've completed their certifications. This supports rehabilitation and fosters a more productive workforce for our community.

Mr. Michael Woodbine, Superintendent of Prisons and Director of Rehabilitation lauded the programme by stating, “Working with a widely recognised partner such as TVET really does enable us to support prisoners in their rehabilitation, training and work experience. Gaining high-quality recognised qualifications, and being able to demonstrate and practice those skills in the prison really does help people to prepare for their release. This first programme, which saw staff and prisoners achieving together, is just the start and we will work with TVET to broaden our offer of skilled and meaningful training, helping and supporting people who leave the prison in gaining meaningful work as they return to being productive members of our communities.”

Mr. Kevin Baxter, TVET Dean, highlighted the significant growth and impact the TVET programme has experienced and emphasised the programme's continued dedication to its partnership with His Majesty’s Prison and the secondary school system. He stated, “TVET's expansion underscores the importance of equipping inmates with workforce-ready skills and competence thereby fostering a seamless transition into society after incarceration”.

The TCI Community College’s TVET programme has proven to be a beacon of hope, offering incarcerated individuals a path towards personal growth, rehabilitation, and a brighter future. As the partnership continues to flourish and additional skill areas are included, it is anticipated that additional inmates and correctional officers will benefit from this transformative initiative.

25/08/2023

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘
𝗜𝗻𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺

On Thursday, 17th August at 11:00am a graduation ceremony was held at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP), for 9 inmates who completed the Anger Management Program.

The anger management program which began in 2007 has seen over 150 inmates graduating from the program to date. Each year, two cycles are conducted to train inmates in how to resolve conflicts and control their anger. The program is facilitated by Mr. Stanley Been, Substance Abuse Counselor within the Department of Behavioral Health Services. Remarks were received from Assistant Superintendent Ms. Meshelle Jennings, who congratulated the young men and encouraged them to utilize the tools they had learnt when dealing with situations that may provoke their anger. Also bringing remarks was Dr. Alicia Malcolm, Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services who commended the participants for their consistency and determination in completing the course.

This program continues to represent the collaborative work that is being done to aid in the rehabilitation of prisoners within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

01/05/2023

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘
𝗜𝗻𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆'𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗶𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁

On Tuesday, the 18th April, 2023, two inmates at His Majesty's Prison, Grand Turk, had the opportunity to participate in a 2-hour business programme hosted by Invest Turks and Caicos Business Support Unit and facilitated by Ms. Peshina Williams, owner of Vision Financial.
The seminar focused on key areas such as Introduction to Microsoft; Recording Sales & Expenses; Cash Book; Monitoring Inventory; Petty Cash Management; Float Management; and Organization of Worksheets.

Participant were able to hear from other local business owners looking to either start or who have already launched their own businesses. This was a mixed group of both the young and even more experienced entrepreneurs.

At the end, participants received a Certificate of Participation from Invest Turks and Caicos for training in "MANAGING YOUR BUSINESS FINANCES WITH EXCEL TRAINING."

Prison Superintendent, Michael Woodbine said, “Preparing prisoners to return to our communities is key in them achieving a successful resettlement. Being able to use temporary release to enable prisoners to attended events and build community links is part of the rehabilitative journey, and we will be enabling more opportunities in the future”.

22/04/2023

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘
𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, 21 April 2024 - Working with the Department of Agriculture and community volunteers, this week saw the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation receive four badly injured donkeys in need of specific care and a safe place to live whilst they recover.

All four donkeys had items stuck on their hoofs or over their ankles, causing serious mobility issues, which of course impacts of their ability to feed and move around to find food.

Superintendent Michael Woodbine said, before coming to the Turks and Caicos Islands, I had read and heard about the donkey population, and was already thinking that there must be a role for the prison to play in caring and looking after donkeys, especially if injured or unwell, so the setting up of what we are calling, “our donkey Hospital” is incredibly pleasing to see.

The prison farm is a wonderful facility and the team of farm staff and workers provide excellent care to the livestock living there. The farm already sells eggs and vegetables to members of the community, and this is another example of our facility supporting the local community and local good causes.

Helping look after ill and injured donkeys is absolutely the right thing for us to be doing. Not only is this good for the donkeys, but it’s great for the people that work on the farm and live in the wider prison. Developing a sense of empathy and building bonds with animals is well documented in supporting changes in people moods, outlook and behavior. Having donkeys here in need of care and help really does offer offenders a different perspective on building bonds, which is most probably better than may have previously experienced.

Once settled in we have seen community volunteers, some of our prisoners, staff and prison mangers working with the Dr Bent in capturing and treating the donkeys in our care. It was great to see how many people wanted to help and get involved. I truly believe the donkeys themselves have released we are here to help them, and they are starting to interact with the team.

In addition to the soft skills this initiative brings, we are also looking to train our prisoners in Donkey husbandry, such as caring for donkey’s fur, knowing what to feed them and farrier skills to ensure their hoofs are well maintained. These will be transferable skills, which we hope will help prisoners prepare for life after custody.

14/04/2023

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘
𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, 14th April 2023- On Saturday, April 8th, 2023, the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (His Majesty’s Prison) as a part of its religious ministration mandate, hosted an Easter Gospel Concert under the theme “Fostering Hope Through Rehabilitation”.

In attendance were the Antioch Seventh Day Adventist, Bible Baptist Haitian Congregation Church, DCR Singspiration Choir, Echoes of Calvary Creole & English Congregation, New Testament Church of God, and Saint Mary’s Pro-Cathedral. The event was a resounding success and prisoners, staff, and community guests were left feeling encouraged. We again thank all these churches that accepted our invitation and participated with us in making the day a real success for the prison and community.

In his opening address the Prison Superintendent, Michael Woodbine, spoke of the importance of community, highlighting that the prison is a part of the local community and that it follows that the local community therefore has a role to play in supporting the prison in returning law-abiding citizens back to society. He continued to speak of the importance of Easter and that message of Easter is one of an opportunity to change and reinvent yourself, to move away from your previous shortcomings, and to fulfill your potential.

In closing the very successful event, Deputy Superintendent Raymond Grant spoke passionately about the importance of the community coming together to shape the lives of children and young people to prevent them from being lost to criminality. Mr. Grant spoke of the opportunities and support that are needed to shape positive futures for our children and young people.

Community engagement and support are vital in helping us change the lives of prisoners in our care to become productive members of our communities upon release. This concert was a celebration of the collative work between the prison and the wider community.

05/04/2023

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘
𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆

The D.C.R. Rehabilitation Unit's newly formed Sports Committee hosted its first event in the form of a Games Day.

This was held on Saturday 1st April 2023 under the theme “Rehabilitation Through Unification”.

The day saw inmates from different wings coming together and participating as a team along with officers. Members of the local community, who were invited also participated in various games which included Basketball, Soccer, Dominoes, Backgammon, Chess and Table Tennis.

This event was aimed to promote our low-level gang intervention and unity through participation in sports and games. The day’s activities progressed without incident and achieved its purpose of everyone taking part and contributing well.

Continuing with this type of low level social intervention we will see reductions in the gang culture which can be prevalent in our prison and communities. Tackling gangs and violence will make the prison and our local communities safer.

Helping prisoners address their offending behavior and preparing them to be productive members of our communities upon release is one of the key roles of the prison.

In his opening address the Prison Superintendent said.
“Morning everyone and thank you for joining us for our sports and games day.

We are grateful and pleased that people from our community have come in to join the people who live and work in the prison and I’m sure we will see some really good competition today.

Today is part of our community engagement program, where we invite the community to reach in to the prison.

It is about more than just sports and games, it’s about the equality that sports and games accomplish, where we are all equals and competitors.

The values of sport are ones we can all adopt in our day to day lives, teamwork, control, discipline, integrity, respect and enjoyment.

Being part of a team is about understanding, listening to other people’s points of view, helping and encouraging, it’s about you taking personal responsibility and doing your best. Through showing control, being disciplined, having integrity and being respectful, you and your team will achieve the most you can, which is enjoyment. I would ask you all to reflect later today on how much you have taken from the day, and just think about how you can make every day as successful following the values you have shown today.

Being a successful member of a community, in prison or in wider society is what we want you to achieve, so enjoy today, apply the values to your wider life and let’s be successful together.

To close, again thank, play hard, play fair and let the games begin!!”

22/03/2023

On Friday February 24, 2023 His Majesty Prison kitchen came alive with a buzz of activity and anticipation. This was as a result of Inmates and Prison Officers preparing to sit their final practical TVET examination in “Food Preparation” offered through Memorandum of Understanding between the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, HM Prion and HJ Robinson High School.

The participants; which included four Prison Officers two inmates and a member of the community; who was given the opportunity to use our facility to be tested. They were all adorned in their appropriate chef attire for what would be a culmination of six months of dedication and hard work.

The kitchen was transformed into a state-of-the-art facility to accommodate students, tutors and offsite invigilators. As the students went through their paces; the food preparations and presentation were of the highest quality. Onlookers to include other staff and inmates were impressed with the showcase of talent on display.

Superintendent Michael Woodbine and Deputy Superintendent Raymond Grant and Acting Permanent Secretary Fredrico Johnson had a chance to visit the examination area where they got first hand view of the proceedings and the array of dishes on display. They were all impressed and again extended their gratitude to the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and HJ Robinson High School under the auspices of Mr. Kevin Baxter; for coming on board and delivering the inaugural “Food Preparation” course to inmate and staff of His Majesty Prison.