Vanuatu’s correctional facilities have reached maximum capacity, and inmates are being housed in unsafe conditions that do not meet international standards. Acting Director of Correctional Services, Albert Nalpini, revealed that work will begin next week after the Government recently approved VT 1.7 million to renovate the former women’s prison. Nalpini stated that the government has already made a significant commitment by investing between 200–300 million vatu in the construction of a new correctional facility in Port Vila, expected to be completed by 2026.

Challenges Faced by Correctional Services:

✅ Aging prison buildings: Some facilities date back to 1956, and engineers have recommended their demolition.
✅ Overcrowded prisons: Santo is currently housing 127 inmates, while in Port Vila, the medium-risk prison has 60 inmates, high-risk has 21, and low-risk has 48. In Tanna, the number has increased to 24, nearing its maximum capacity of 30–40.
✅ No space to relocate inmates: No budget has been allocated yet to transfer inmates to other facilities in Santo or Tanna.
✅ Lack of available buildings in Port Vila to relocate the inmates to with the buildings unsafe for the inmates to live in after the earthquake last year.

Proposed Solutions:

📌 Parole and rehabilitation programs are being strengthened to help reintegrate inmates into society.
📌 Collaboration with the Public Prosecutor and Public Solicitor’s offices to identify minor cases eligible for bail, reducing inmate numbers.
📌 Possible sentence reductions under the President’s authority, but only with careful consideration of community safety and victims’ rights.

Nalpini emphasized that Correctional Services aims to rehabilitate inmates and help them reintegrate as responsible citizens. However, due to limited resources and unsafe facilities, finding the best solution is crucial to ensuring both community safety and humane treatment of inmates.