FOURTEEN prisoners serving life sentences for murder hope to be given a second chance when the Attorney-general finally creates parole procedures in line with EU human rights norms.
“They all want to get out and to have a second chance,” a prison guard, who wished to remain unnamed, told the Cyprus Mail yesterday. “The Attorney-general has to decide to go ahead with it and the prison will follow orders.”
The issue of parole has been much discussed, with the AG’s office said to be dragging its feet over implementing a procedure which will give convicted murderers a chance at rehabilitation.
According to legal service officials, although the AG has remained tight-lipped over when the prison law will be amended to include parole for lifers, it needs to be examined very carefully in order to be implemented properly.
“In the UK and the US the parole system has existed for many years. Our law was created during colonial rule and while the British law developed, our procedures remained stagnant. For example, while the UK has had a community service order for 25 years, we only implemented it three or four years ago. Although we follow the British [legal] system all parameters still need to be examined and taken into account, including what practices and procedures are followed abroad,” the official said
At present, 14 men are incarcerated without parole, with the longest serving lifer already behind bars for 20 years.
“Another one has served 19 years, two have served 13 years, one nine years, four eight years, one five years, one two years, two have been in for one year, and one for two months,” the prison guard said.
Under European principles, “everybody deserves a second chance and we need a solution in line with this approach”, the legal official said.
Prison sources added that the number of people serving life imprisonment was on the increase and that something had to be done about it.
“The closed prison – where these prisoners are kept – is already overpopulated, but we make room for these people. We’re waiting to see how things develop and to see how the probation procedure will be implemented to reintegrate prisoners convicted for life back into society.”
The parole procedure under scrutiny will involve the convicted lifer going before a parole board; based on behaviour behind bars, he will be granted release on certain conditions.
A second prison source said the open prison could act as a halfway house for such prisoners, where they had more freedom, more visits and limited security.
At present, the open prison is only for inmates with a prison sentence under six months or for convicts who have shown good behaviour and completed a third of their sentence.
Prisoners can apply to transfer from the maximum security closed prison to the open prison, and only after permission is granted from a review board does the move go ahead.
“But we’re still waiting. So far the Attorney-general has said nothing. We only know that he’s examining the issue,” the source said.
No one was yesterday available for comment from the Attorney-general’s office.
