Friday, as part of Operation "Punch", after his his visit to the National Penitentiary https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13297-haiti-justice-operation-punch.html and last Wednesday at the prison in Croix-des-Bouquets, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13367-haiti-justiceoperation-punch-to-the-prison-of-croix-des-bouquets.html , Pierre-Richard Casimir, the Minister of Justice, visited the civil prison for women, of Pétion-ville.

Accompanied by Jean Roudy Aly, Director General of Ministry and of Chief prosecutor of Port-au-Prince, Me Kherson Darius Charles, the Minister Casimir reiterated its determination to fight against prolonged pretrial detention, wanting to attract the attention of judicial authorities on the case of some people who have remained in prison for four or five years without trial, whereas if they had been tried and convicted, their sentences would not even exceeded three years.

During his visit, he met with prisoners to analyze the obstacles recorded in their files and see to what extent those in prolonged pretrial detention, could receive special attention from the prosecution of Port-au-Prince.

Welcomed by Marjorie St-Jean, the Director of the Prison Administration he wanted to see for himself the conditions of operation of some important sections of the prison, such as infirmary, cooking and cells. The Minister Casimir was very concerned about the health of incarcerated women in Petion-ville.

He asked the prosecutionof Port-au-Prince to give the benefit of the emergency to the records of two pregnant women, before entering prison, which are part of the 327 women incarcerated in the penitentiary. Two gynecologists and internal medicine are available to the prison to visit especially pregnant women and make the necessary follow-up.

The Minister Casimir, who said not to want to replace Justice, only demanded better conditions for women already condemned. For those who have already spent years in prison without being fixed on their fate, the Minister asked the Chief of the prosecution to make a general inventory and quickly undertake the necessary follow-up.

Starting next Monday, a team from the prosecution of Port-au-Prince, composed among others of several substitutes government commissioner, will visit the prison of Petion-ville to achieve hearings and remove folders.

Operation "Punch" launched on 2 March at the National Penitentiary https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13297-haiti-justice-operation-punch.html by the Minister Casimir already produced positive results. Some court records lying around for long time, have been treated and those who deserved was released.

Pierre-Richard Casimir, preventive prison should definitely be an exception and not the rule.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13367-haiti-justiceoperation-punch-to-the-prison-of-croix-des-bouquets.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13297-haiti-justice-operation-punch.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13254-haiti-justice-89-of-the-inmates-of-the-national-penitentiary-in-prolonged-pretrial-detention.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11129-haiti-justice-launch-of-the-phase-ii-of-free-legal-assistance.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10595-haiti-justice-pretrial-detention-small-improvement.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9496-haiti-justice-first-mission-of-the-new-un-independent-expert.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8229-haiti-justice-7-188-persons-in-preventive-detention.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8161-haiti-justice0-62-m2-per-prisoner-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7840-haiti-justice-fight-against-pretrial-detention.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4143-haiti-justice-a-justice-slow-and-inefficient.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2703-haiti-justice-detention-a-slight-improvement.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1669-haiti-justice-aberrations-of-the-haitian-judicial-system.html

HL/ HaitiLibre