He said the principles of sentencing acted as a deterrent to allow the inmate to reflect on the crime committed and to have a denunciation that it was wrong and for the victim to receive retribution. He said if that was not allowed, coupled with training of reintegration into society, the crime cycle would perpetuate.
He added: "I am not saying to turn the prisons into the Hyatt but prisoners should not be sleeping in the same place where they excrete. They should be doing something better with their time. "Eventually those serving a fixed sentence would have to come out and if they are not treated with dignity or not trained to be reintegrated into society where is the crime problem going to be? " Khan asked.He maintained that the administration of justice was "to punish but not to go on punishing beyond principles."
Make death penalty humane
Calling for certain procedures to be implemented regarding Death Row prisoners Khan urged they must also be treated with dignity and care. The reading of the death warrant, he said, must be a very solemn event. He said: "The entire thing must be very serious because it is your last meal, your last rites and you should be allowed a visit from a priest or religious representative. All these I will be looking at. "I am not saying it is done arbitrarily but we have we to look at the procedure and ensure it is going to happen because if the Government is bent on enforcing the death penalty it should be made as humane as possible," Khan added.
Sub-par conditions
Top on Khan's agenda was tackling prisons conditions across the board. Saying it was no secret that conditions were a cause for concern, Khan added: "There have been several local judgments discussing whether these conditions were unconstitutional. "Our courts have used such adjectives, as distressing, appalling and sub-human, and the Court of Appeal emphasised that conditions were completely unacceptable in a civilised country." Among the complaints from prisoners, Khan listed, were overcrowding, faeces-filled cells, denial of airing time, cells not cleaned often, limited prison visits and numerous concerns relating to food. Regarding the issue of overcrowding, Khan said he, as prisons inspector, could not address it but could bring it to the attention of the relevant authorities, including the Attorney General and National Security Minister.
Prisons review system
The prisons' review system, which dated as far back as 1838, had similarities as the parole system which was expected to be implemented, he said. The review, Khan added, was so old that it was no longer printed by Government. He said the system afforded review for anyone serving a sentence longer than four years and it was opened to judicial review following recommendations. He added: "Until the parole system comes into force the four=year review system is in the books and it is the law. "I have to speak to the Prisons Commissioner to determine whether these reviews were being conducted and what was the procedure." Lauding the ideal of a parole system, Khan said it sent positive messages to society that all was not lost.