Prisons director replaced at his request

Joseph Vassallo

Aug 29th 2008, 11:53

Take a look at this Mail On Sunday report and see if any of it applies. The link is http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1034395/Community-service-punishment-ideal-sentence-idle-criminal-judge-says.html .

How many "busy" people have the inclination, opportunity or desire to commit crime? On the other hand, how many lazy layabouts are likely to prefer thieving to working?

Joseph Schembri

Aug 28th 2008, 20:16

@Joseph Vassallo: Yes I see what you mean. But if a criminal ended up in court because he has a sweet tooth you do not send him to do community service in a candy shop. I'm sure you know what I mean.

I agree with Noel Cutajar that every case should be judged on its own merits of course. Very often we write comments about cases after reading a newspaper report without knowing any of the details. That is why I try to speak in general.

Joseph Vassallo

Aug 28th 2008, 19:08

Regarding community service.... Would you not be concerned if the authorities sent a convicted criminal to fix a dripping tap in your dear old mom's house? Wouldn't this also create an opportunity to have a look around for something of value so that the criminal can earmark his next proposed victim?

I honestly believe that community service orders only manage to put already-at-risk citizens in more danger.

Noel Cutajar

Aug 28th 2008, 15:42

@Joseph Schembri...sentencing is the prerogative of the Court. Crticism has always been leveled at the Courts in that there are no standard practices in handing down sentences. Ins most cases they are bound by law in what they have to hand down. While non-custodial sentences most often then not end up into Probation Order or Suspended Sentences. The culture for Community Services is yet to be part of the judiciary. In some cases, it was used with good results. But this has to be a case by case system.

P Sultana

Aug 28th 2008, 12:06

Alfred Agius, that's an excellent idea.

Joseph Schembri

Aug 28th 2008, 10:59

@ Noel Cutajar. Yes, yes I know about victim compensation (Victim support website: http://users.onvol.net/98560/site/support/CJB/CJB_legal_local.htm ) But how often do we hear of criminals being made to work to compensate their victims? How often do we hear of magistrates handing out a sentence for community work? From the point of view of CORRECTING criminal behaviour I am just stressing the point that convicts should give something back to society instead of being locked up in prison, becoming angrier at society and then coming out with a bigger grudge. Why not sentencing someone to help in restoration works if caught vandalising public property for example? A fine, a suspended sentence or a prison sentence may have less impact on the perpetrator's mind.

Noel Cutajar

Aug 28th 2008, 07:48

@Joseph Schembri...you got it wrong again. As a victim of crime, you have a right for compensation.

dbugeja

Aug 27th 2008, 22:40

@ Joseph Schembri

I agree with you that the maybe the best solution is to try and teach the culprit to lead a better life.
but when we do give another chance and the culprit repeats and repeats crime after crime then what should we do?. Lately a man who is a recidiv allegedly committed another crime on a lotto receiver. we all know about his past and his crimes.
Don't you think the Court hadn't given him any chances to fix his life and integrate into a better society.?

Now in your opinion what should we do about this kind of man and those who are like him?
Can we let him go hurting other people. some people are like that and one can do nothing to change them. I see them yes as a threat to society.

Joseph Schembri

Aug 27th 2008, 20:04

@dbugeja: Let's say that I was the victim of some crime: I'm sure that my first instinct would have been "I want to kill him". We are animals (in the biological sense) after all - but unlike all the other animals we are educated to aspire to higher values. That is why we should have more victim support programs and ways to educate criminals and not just send them to prison and forget about them until the time they come out again. Prison is not the only solution. For example I get no compensation for the crime committed against me - I'd rather have him do some work to repay me! That would give him a better lesson. But as it stands now when he comes out of prison he'll just have more pent up anger against me.

dbugeja

Aug 27th 2008, 15:58

Joseph Schembri

I do not agree with what you have wrote. Those people who are in prisons are people who committed crimes many of them with the detriment of many innocent people.

These are people who stole, killed or abused other people and children.
These are people who in life has a chance to fix their way of living.
But because of these people there are other people who are suffering in silencebehind closed doors and are endouring a very difficult life.
These are people who at least have families visiting them but there are people who cannot see their families because they were killed.

Joseph Schembri

Aug 27th 2008, 14:53

@Joseph Vassallo. You raise valid and I am sure heartfelt points. Unfortunately I have no ready answer to your questions. I agree that prison should act as a deterrent but what does one do when as you say evil acts are committed by prisoners? I'm asking myself that question more than directing it at you. At present prisoners receive some benefits such as prison leave and reduction of sentence for good behaviour. I believe that reduction of these benefits is the only thing we can do to an inmate who commits other irregularities while in prison. So that is why I believe that prison leave and reduction of sentence are a good thing. And, your 'joke' about the soap was not lost on me. Such a situation would have been funny hadn't it been tragic.

Joseph Vassallo

Aug 27th 2008, 09:53

@Joseph Schembri... What's human about someone who plants a bomb on the home of a "fellow human" family?

What's human about someone who remorselessly assaults "fellow humans" for the sake of self-gratification?

What's human about someone who peddles dangerous drugs to "fellow human" youngsters for profit?

Whilst defending your right to state your opinion, I cannot agree with what you say and would suggest that anyone intent on doing a "bit of good" for "fellow humans" should try and find another route to heaven, and allow the deterrent to function.

Can anyone tell me what currency is used among prisoners seeking "special priveleges" or "safety" from other inmates? What happens when I.O.U.s aren't paid?

Do "stronger" prisoners treat "weaker" prisoners like "fellow humans" or like vermin to be held constantly in fear?

Sadly, hierarchies develop within prisons and the ones at the top are usually the most dangerous of the species because they have nothing to lose.

Would you be concerned for a young offender's safety in such circles, especially if he doesn't have a good grip on the soap, if you know what I mean?

Sue Micallef

Aug 27th 2008, 00:45

How easy it is for people to point their fingers ! Supt. Gatt has done a lot of beneficial work in prison. His responsibilities were numerous and a population of 400 inmates plus their families is no joke!

Noel Cutajar

Aug 27th 2008, 00:05

@Joseph Schembri: direct your comments to their victims who are suffering the loss of their loved ones and the fear of sleeping in their beds!! That is what I call injustice and not because one cannot write a letter!! I had contacts with both and believe me I am yet to see one inmate who feels sorry for his victims and ask forgiveness. Talk about injustices!!!

Glenn Bedingfield

Aug 26th 2008, 23:45

The integrity shown by Mr Sandro Gatt is an example to all. Albeit he had nothing to do with the incidents he assumed full responsibility for what happened, and what his subordinates did. I know Mr Gatt as a man of integrity and his police record clearly proves me right. Being the prison Director is a very difficult job and no one envies Mr Gatt for the time spent managing the imanigable.

Joseph Schembri

Aug 26th 2008, 21:34

I hope that this will not lead to any cruel repercussions on our fellow humans locked up in prison. When it comes to these things I feel that I can only trust people like Mid Dlam Ghad Dawl who have in the past spoken up for those amongst us without a voice. It is easy for me and probably most of the people writing here to voice our opinions while sitting in a comfortable armchair. The inmates in prison, as far as I know, can't even write a personal letter to a loved one without having it censored. Justice in this unjust world must be seen to be carried out but it should not degenerate into vindictiveness. One of the Christian virtues is charity to prisoners. Let it not disappear here.

Joseph Caruana

Aug 26th 2008, 19:20

@Charles J Buttigieg


The prison director never asked to be replaced. The government statement which can be seen on the DOI's website says that he asked to returned to police duty and his request was acceded to.

Neither did the statement say that he was being investigated as some of the comments here are implying. Let's face it, most of the allegations we heard since Toorstra escaped were about mis-management and lack of discipline within the prison walls, rather than anything serious. So let's leave the Independent board to decide whether Supt. Gatt is the shady person that sections of the media are painting him to be or just someone who lacked the necessary skills to run a prison well, or who became tired after 5 years at the helm of the structure which holds Malta's most despised and dangerous individuals.

I would love to see the armchair critics that call this forum home run the show in Supt Gatt's stead.

Noel Cutajar

Aug 26th 2008, 19:02

I find Mr Emanuel Cassar appointment to head an independent Board to investigate any shortcomings to be nonsensical to say the least. How can an ex-Director of Prison himself see any short comings in all of this when he will be having a look into the same structure that he created?

Good luck to Brian now...he has a hard job ahead to break a system which went out of control for many years from a Prison facility to a Holiday Complex.

IVAN GRIXTI

Aug 26th 2008, 18:07

As an honest citizen I am really disturbed that Supt Sandro Gatt has "asked to be replaced" even though the acting director is also a good friend of mine. I would like to publicly acclaim Supt. Gatt for all the good work he has put in running the CCF. As mentioned by other commentators, people like Sandro and all his staff are continuously under threat, not only themselves but also their respective families. Thanks Sandro and good luck Brian!

alfred agius

Aug 26th 2008, 18:02

It is true that prison staff operate under pressure and blackmail from the inmates. This happens not only at CCF, Malta but anywhere around the globe. This undermines authority and makes discipline difficult to maintain.

We hear so much on co-operative agreements within the EU, so why not agree on a rotating international pool of wardens serving in prisons outside their country of origin ? Inmates will thus not be in a position anymore to blackmail and threaten wardens and their families.

George Farrugia

Aug 26th 2008, 17:42

Il-Bully can now officially become prison director. He already ran the show at the prisons, so why not promote him?!

victor vella

Aug 26th 2008, 17:31

@Jacob Borg, Supt Gatt is not and should not be under investigation, as rightly stated by Paul Barret the prison guards work under extreme pressure, to quote a person who I trust and is a very good friend of mine the prisoners often threathen the guards by mentioning thier families, and children as Paul rightly stated the prisoners have friends on the outside and they know each and every member of the families of the guards and officials.But to have the director compromised is somthing which cannot be allowed and as stated by me in a previous coment this should stop immediately, Now I expect the authorities to lock up il Bully in solitary confinment for the rest of his sentence , that way he would be rendered harmless, with him should go all those Bullies who think that they are supreme, and let no one mention human rights, these are drug dealers, murderers and thieves.

Paul Barrett

Aug 26th 2008, 16:47

Before criticism runs amok do bear in mind that being a Prison Officer is possibly one of the most difficult and dangerous employments on this Island.
Firstly you are dealing with individuals who are to say the least - awkward to get on with.
Secondly, prisoners have friends and relatives outside the prison.
Thirdly, prisoners (in most cases) will be released at some time or other.
Prison Officers have family and they also have to live in close proximity - as we all do - on this tiny Island.
In the above circumstances it is extremely difficult to enforce discipline and there has to be some leeway on a give and take basis between Prison Officers, the administration and the prisoners.
It is not an ideal situation but just imagine having the job yourself and the consequences.

Charles J Buttigieg

Aug 26th 2008, 16:25

“The Director of Prisons, Superintendent Sandro Gatt, has been replaced at his own request, the Ministry of Home Affairs said this afternoon.”
Doesn’t this tantamount to submitted his resignation and was accepted? Or perhaps he was asked to submit his resignation? What is behind the spin?

H Farrugia

Aug 26th 2008, 15:14

In my opinion Prison Directors should not remain in office for more than 5 years. It's healthy and better that way. The longer one remains a director, the longer are the chances for corruption and abuse in the civil prisons. We have experimented too long with Prision Directors since the Theuma administration. The only one who brought order and discipline was Asst Commissioner Josie Brincat, who had to face a prison rebellion for his just actions. And he managed to overcome all obstacles and hurdles. It's a tough and thankless job.

John Azzopardi

Aug 26th 2008, 15:03

Authorities seem not to have heard of the Peter Principle. Having high competence in one area of operations does not necessarily mean that a person will have the same level of competence in a different area. On the contrary, reality is that normally they don't. It is through no fault of their own and no-one should be placed in such an awkward situation. Law enforcement and prison management are not the same.

Charles Camilleri

Aug 26th 2008, 14:41

there were times in the recent past where an inmate used to be call him Sir by fellow inmates and , he was never treated like other prisoners as he used to go around without any hindrance. There was never any fuss heard about this.

Jacob Borg

Aug 26th 2008, 14:40

Brilliant idea!Send a person under investigation to work with the police force!Why not appoint il-Bully as prison director whilst you are at it!