Construction of the Maldives’ new Central Prison Complex is scheduled to begin this month as part of a wider effort to centralise prison services and strengthen rehabilitation programmes, according to Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan.
The project will replace the current system of correctional facilities spread across multiple islands and bring key prison services together at a single location.
Minister Ihusaan said the existing prisons were not designed to effectively support rehabilitation and reform initiatives. He said the new complex would provide rehabilitation-focused services under one roof while improving the overall management and operation of the prison system.
According to the minister, some existing prison facilities are expected to be relocated to the new complex within the next two years. He added that the government aims to develop the Maldives Correctional Service into an institution that meets high standards and serves as a source of national pride.
The government also plans to introduce legal amendments that would allow prisoners to reduce their sentences through participation in rehabilitation programmes. Under the proposed changes, inmates would be eligible to have one day deducted from their sentence for each day spent in approved rehabilitation activities. The amendment is expected to be passed by Parliament and come into effect within the next three months.
In addition to the prison complex, the government plans to develop Hope Island as a rehabilitation centre for juvenile offenders. Both projects will be located in Uthuru Thila Falhu.
Approximately 30 hectares of land will be reclaimed for the Central Prison Complex. The planned facility will include residential accommodation, a drug rehabilitation centre, a halfway house, education and vocational training facilities, a mosque with a capacity of 1,000 worshippers, a medical centre and other support services.
The government says the project is intended to address operational and service delivery challenges associated with maintaining separate prison facilities across different islands while placing greater emphasis on rehabilitation and reintegration.
