Prisoners in Malta, including those serving a life sentence, could leave prison early through a parole system proposed by a White Paper launched for consultation on Friday.

Justice Minister Carmelo Mifud Bonnici, who launched the paper yesterday, was asked whether parole undermines court decisions. But he insisted this was not the case.   “Participation in the programme does not undermine court judgments,” he said, adding that not everyone will be accepted into the programme.  In fact, he emphasized, the White Paper is broader than parole and aims at reforming the much maligned correctional system into one which reforms prisoners.  One of the prisoners at the Corradino Correctional Facility is currently serving more than 30 prison sentences, he pointed out, adding that another has 18 sentences while four prisoners have 16.  “This shows that we need a system to reduce relapsing,” Bonnici said yesterday …  He said a parole system is not being considered as a cost-cutting measure but as a way of rehabilitating the prisoner.

Originally meant to be published in October, the White Paper proposes changes long requested by NGOs for the prison system to become a correctional facility rather than a place of punishment …

Parole will allow the prisoner to request release from custody and serve part of the sentence in the community. However, the early release from prison depends on the prisoner showing that he is making serious efforts to reform and that he has realized the damage caused by his actions. Through parole prisoners will be able to reintegrate into society by being conditionally released after serving part of their sentence while still under supervision.  At the moment early release from prison is possible through remission, which is granted to prisoners on the grounds of good conduct. The White Paper is proposing that remission be no longer automatically awarded on the basis of good conduct but for those who do not succeed to be released on parole.