The objective: Correctional Service of Solomon Islands is able to effectively transition to independent Solomon Islands management and operations.
Like other organisations, the Solomon Islands Prison Service, as it was known at the time, virtually stopped functioning during the tensions which followed years of little maintenance and steadily declining standards of discipline. Rove Prison in Honiara, the largest prison in Solomon Islands, was severely run-down and poorly staffed. Auki Prison in Malaita had been deemed unfit for use by either officers or prisoners, and a number of other provincial prisons were similarly lacking in infrastructure which complied with UN-standards.
With RAMSI’s assistance, the reinvigorated Correctional Services of Solomon Islands has become one of the success stories in Solomon Islands. A new Act has been developed and passed by Solomon Islands parliament, a new Correctional Centre has been constructed in Auki, Malaita Province, and refurbishments have also been undertaken at Rove, Tetere, Kirakira and Lata. The Correctional Services of Solomon Islands is now an attractive employment option in Solomon Islands and is being led by a team of Solomon Islanders. A positive approach to prisoner rehabilitation – based on rehabilitation, rather than ‘punishment’ – is seeing outstanding results, only a few years after being implemented.
The strategy
RAMSI will assist the Correctional Services of Solomon Islands to:
- Develop and manage infrastructure, including new correctional facilities in Auki and Gizo.
- Build management and correctional officer capacity.
- Develop prisoner rehabilitation programs.
To learn more about some of the specific targets that have been set for each strategy, download the Partnership Framework document.
The challenges
The corrections process in Solomon Islands has made significant progress since RAMSI’s arrival. However, enormous challenges remain. Smaller, provincial correctional centres have the added disadvantage of geographic isolation, meaning that infrastructure development remains difficult, and despite a clear reduction in prisoners re-offending under the new rehabilitation approach and a high level of re-acceptance of prisoners back into the community, many Solomon Islanders still think that a punishment approach should be used.
While significant improvements have occurred within the Correctional Services, it remains an organisation in the relatively early days of development, with significant work remaining to strengthen the capacity of management throughout the organisation.
Finally, the establishment of a new Correctional Centre in Gizo, the capital of Solomon Islands Western Province, and the country’s third largest town, has been significantly delayed due to problems with the acquisition of land. Construction is currently underway. This project is a key part of the Solomon Islands Government’s strategy for improving the correctional system in Solomon Islands, and ensuring it is built in Gizo is a major priority.
RAMSI’s work
16 RAMSI advisers are working throughout the Solomon Islands correctional system to support the development of improved corrections facilities in the country, and to build long-term capacity in their Solomon Islands colleagues. Their work covers three areas:
1. Infrastructure
Improving the correctional infrastructure in Solomon Islands remains a key priority for RAMSI in its partnership with the Solomon Islands Government. This work includes the refurbishment of a number of provincial correctional centres, and the construction of two new provincial correctional centres in Auki (Malaita Province) and Gizo (Western Province). These new correctional centres allow many prisoners to be accommodated and rehabilitated in their home province, which is of significant benefit to the long-term welfare of the prisoner and their families.
RAMSI advisers are also helping to develop long-term maintenance strategies within the correctional services to protect the sustainability of these improved facilities. The key targets include:
- Correctional Services’ national development plan is reviewed, and a set of infrastructure priorities developed and accepted.
- New Correctional Centres are appropriately designed for addressing the issues of safety, security, rehabilitation and reintegration.The working environment for Correctional staff promotes professional, ethical performance and promotes the development of internal and external relationships.
- Correctional Services Solomon Islands adopts an Asset Management Strategy in line with Solomon Islands Government policy.
- Correctional Services Solomon Islands reviews the implementation of Asset Management Strategies.
- An appropriate maintenance schedule is developed for all Correctional Service infrastructure.
2. Building capacity
Building sustainable capacity within the correctional service is focussed on putting the systems and processes in place to develop the skills and confidence of staff. With RAMSI’s support, Correctional Service of Solomon Islands has become a leading employment choice in Solomon Islands, with strong training and professional development opportunities. The key targets for this work include:
- The Correctional Services workforce is shaped by a professional development strategy that supports current and emerging leaders.
- Correctional Officers have recognised, accredited qualifications in workplace competencies.
- Benchmarks are established that measure the capability of Correctional Services Solomon Islands and its readiness for full management of Correctional Centres.
- RAMSI advisers are progressively reduced through an appropriately paced transition process.
- Continued short-term technical advisers are only required for specialist functions, such as IT.
3. Prisoner rehabilitation
The approach within the Solomon Islands Correctional Service is now one of rehabilitation, not punishment.
With RAMSI assistance, programs are being put in place throughout the Solomon Islands correctional system that provide prisoners with a mix of work and life skills-focussed training. These programs help prisoners directly address their offending behaviour, strengthen relationships with family and build structured pre-release plans with the aim that when prisoners finish their time in a correctional centre, they become positive contributors to their community. The key target for this work:
- Appropriate programs and services are implemented that address offending behaviour and provide support for re-integration into society.
Case study:
Auki Correctional Centre
Built with the assistance of the RAMSI, the Auki Correctional Centre, which was opened in August 2009, reflects the modernisation of Solomon Islands correctional system to focus on prisoner rehabilitation.
Speaking at the commissioning, Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono said the Centre would provide a much more effective opportunity for healing of offenders from Malaita province than was possible previously when the majority of prisoners had to serve their sentences In Honiara.
“It is Government policy to develop centres in locations such as this that allow offenders to keep in touch with family and support networks, such as church groups, who can encourage them and help prepare them to be better citizens,” said Mr Fono.
RAMSI Special Coordinator Graeme Wilson said at the opening that the progress made in Corrections since RAMSI arrived in 2003 was one of the strongest success stories of the partnership between Solomon Islands and RAMSI.
“Six years ago, the Solomon Islands community was not able to count on the rule of law for protection; the courts were not sitting and in Honiara and Auki there were no functioning prisons,” Mr Wilson said. “It gives me great pleasure to witness a fine example of the successful modernisation of Correctional Services Solomon Islands (CSSI) which is being very firmly led by its Solomon Islands executive.”
The new Centre stands in stark contrast to the former Auki prison which was condemned for not meeting United Nations standards for either inmates or officers. It has the capacity for up to 60 prisoners, including separate accommodation for women and juvenile offenders.
Achievements so far
Since RAMSI’s support to Correctional Services of Solomon Islands commenced in 2006, significant progress has been made. These achievements include:
- Auki Correctional Centre, which was opened in August 2009, reflects the recent modernisation of Solomon Islands correctional system to focus on prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration. Built with the assistance of RAMSI, the project injected an estimated $3m (SBD) into the economy of Malaita Province during construction, and employs around 40 staff.
- Since late 2008, Correctional Services Solomon Islands has been led by a Solomon Islander, Commissioner Francis Haisoma. The Correctional Service’s Deputy Commissioner and the Commandants of nearly all centres throughout Solomon Islands are now also Solomon Islanders.
- The number of Correctional Centres compliant with United Nations minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners has increased from two in 2009 to five in 2010, with Rove, Tetere, Auki, Kirakira and Lata Correctional Centres all now compliant with United Nations standards.
- Correctional Services Solomon Islands is now a leading employment option in Solomon Islands, with an outstanding training and accreditation program for all Correctional Officers. As part of their employment, Correctional Officers can now undertake the Certificate III in Correctional Practice, which is accredited by the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education and enables officers to undertake a career path within the Correctional service.
- RAMSI adviser numbers have decreased from 50 in 2007 to just 18 in 2010, reflecting the growing capacity of Correctional Services Solomon Islands.
- The change to a rehabilitation focus for corrections in Solomon Islands has seen a 14% drop in prisoner repeat offences following the completion of prisoners’ sentences, representing a significant change from the pre-‘rehabilitation’ approach.