Criminologists old and new

I read the article Prison Reform: Justice Ministry Promises White Paper In October (September 15) with interest for it made a very good case for the use of parole and community service as a substitute for part or all of a prison sentence.

I was therefore rather surprised to read the clarification (September 17) that Sue Micallef had been mis-described as "a criminologist" rather than as "president of the Criminology Student Association... an undergraduate in criminology and the promoter of a petition calling for the introduction of parole". I say surprised because Ms Micallef has just completed her three-year BA (Hons) course in criminology at the University of Malta and is eligible for employment in the area, although it is true that her degree will not actually be awarded until December. Thus, unless the University has wasted three years of Ms Micallef's life, she should rank as a criminologist.

Two years ago, I took a party of 16, including Ms Micallef, to England on a criminology study tour. We visited Europe's largest prison, met prisoners in the life imprisonment unit and saw at first hand the extensive educational and rehabilitative facilities provided for the general prison population. When we visited Corradino Correctional Facility we saw that there were undoubtedly possibilities for making similar provision for the prisoners there, albeit on a much smaller scale, but only if there was the political will to fund the facilities and staff.

If the young criminologists produced by the University, having seen what is done abroad, now seek to promote the economic, social and political arguments for prison reform and a new approach to penal rehabilitation in Malta, surely that is not only to be expected but also welcomed. The only people who would deny them this right are those who know that their knowledge of such matters is outdated or inadequate (and so feel threatened by change) and those who fear that change will imply criticism of current and previous prison regimes. Clearly, these are not the people who should be making recommendations or decisions in the matter.