PENDING REPORT ON PRISONS

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000771

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC HA KCRM KJUS PGOV PREL PHUM SNAR
SUBJECT: PENDING REPORT ON PRISONS


1. (U) The International Crisis Group (ICG) will soon
release a report highlighting deficiencies in Haiti's prison
system, and warn that increased arrests from MINUSTAH's and
the HNP's security crackdown exacerbates the strains on the
prison system. Dr. Damien Helly, the ICG's senior analyst
for Haiti, told POLOFF on April 23 that the report will
contain three recommendations: that the international donor
community and the GoH establish a common pool of funds,
co-administered by the international donor community and the
GoH for the construction of prisons in Haiti. The report
proposes a donor conference as the venue for establishing the
prison fund pool; that the GoH construct a maximum security
prison to house convicted criminals and reduce prison
escapes; and that the GoH establish a temporary incarceration
facility to relieve the congestion at the national
penitentiary in Port-au-Prince. Any temporary detention
center would have to address the detention conditions and
rights of pre-trial detainees.


2. (U) Comment: Both international and Haitian experts
increasingly recognize that the dysfunctionality of the
prison system (as well as the justice system generally)
threatens the progress the HNP have made in fighting crime.
The publication of the ICG report should serve as an
opportunity for the donor community to focus dialogue on
prison reform with the GoH. As post and the Department,
particularly the INL and DRL bureaus, consider how we might
support prison reform, we will continue to report on the
direction of discussions in Haiti.
SANDERSON