Prison Commissioner on hospital escape: We dropped the ball

PRISON Commissioner Carlos Corraspe says the Prison Service “dropped the ball,” after an inmate charged with murder escaped custody while being treated at the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex, Mt Hope on August 4.

A statement from the Prison Service said Hakeem Ishmael Mohammed, from Wharf Trace, Maracas, St Joseph, escaped from the hospital's accident and emergency department around 3 am on August 4.

The Prison Service said he was considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached if seen.

Police were still searching for Mohammed up to press time on August 5.

Speaking with Newsday on August 5, Corraspe apologised to the public and other stakeholders in the justice system.

“Any time there is an escape from prison custody, it means that the prison has dropped the ball on public safety. Every single crime that takes place from the time that person has escaped – including the fact of the escape which is a criminal offence – every single crime that takes place during that period is on the prison service.

"I have to apologise on behalf of the prison service, as the head, for us dropping the ball where that is concerned.”

He was unable to say exactly how Mohammed escaped but said the matter was being investigated with an eye to preventing a recurrence.

“I'm expecting a report, and the report will give us a clear guideline as to what transpired, in the best way that it can be reconstructed.”

Corraspe added any officer found to be culpable would face the relevant sanctions which could include dismissal and even possible criminal charges.

“There are some (charges) that are delegated to the commissioner, which are internal matters and less of a punishment, (and could be) as much as a 12 days' pay from the officer's salary if the tribunal is activated and the officer is found guilty.

“If, however, the matter is external and it goes on external tribunal within the Public Service Commission, one of the possible punishments is in fact dismissal.

"If it goes up higher than that, to a situation where it is proven that there's some malfeasance on the part of the officer, then of course that becomes a criminal offence, and the police will be involved.”

President of the TT Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) Idi Stuart asked why the prisoner was not sent to the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH).

Stuart said PoSGH was the only hospital, as far as he knew, that was outfitted to deal with high-risk prisoners.

“These high-risk patients are supposed to be housed in an acceptable, approved manner. PoSGH is the only place currently where they created a unit to house these high-risk patients, where they will be under constant security arrangements, both to prevent them from hurting others or persons coming in to hurt them or escaping like what transpired.”

Stuart said that had been an ongoing concern for the TTRNA, as his information was that prisoners tried to get sent to Mt Hope, as it was easier to escape from.

“They actually plan it, because more often than not, it's only one officer, or two for the most, supervising these prisoners. So from the minute that officer slips up in any way, that patient escapes.

"And how Mt Hope is laid out, you could escape through any window and there are no bars on the windows or anything like that. It's designed as a hospital, it's not designed as a jail.”

Stuart said the decision to take prisoners to Mt Hope for treatment put the lives of health professionals at risk.

He said no special training was given to the staff interacting with the prisoners, and no special measures were taken, apart from handcuffing the prisoner.

“The patient is placed on the same ward with all other patients.

"It's something we continue to raise as an issue. Nursing personnel have been threatened by some of these persons who come on to the wards and can't get their way. We actually had to deal with an issue about two months ago where a staff member was threatened.

"But when we requested the patient to be removed from the unit and taken back to the (prison) facility where they came from, the authorities preferred to move the nurse and didn't accede to our request.

“So it seems, from the interactions we have had over the years, they place a higher value not on the staff, but on those persons who threaten the staff.”

Corraspe acknowledged there were risks with taking a prisoner to the hospital for treatment, but said there was little option, as there were no prison hospitals in TT.

“These are general hospitals that cater for inmates if and when the need arises. So officers are trained on what is the expectation.

"There are security staff at the hospital as well as police in attendance. So we have certain security protocols that we engage in.

"But from a prison staff point of view, officers are trained into doing a basic risk assessment and to ensure that while they are in charge of the inmate, that these protocols are applied in the way that is expected.”

He said the decision to take prisoners to Mt Hope for treatment is determined by the prison medical officer, who must also consider the type of treatment the prisoner needs.

“In the first instance, the inmate will be sent to the hospital based on an emergency situation. Then secondarily, if it's not an emergency situation, he will be sent to the hospital where his medical management is most affordable.

"Different hospitals specialise in different medical care, and that is the basis upon which a determination is made. So, for instance, if it's a serious emergency, it would be the nearest hospital. But if it's a particular medical condition that is treated at a particular hospital, then the inmate is sent there.”

The authorities are asking anyone with information on Mohammed’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station, 999, the prison authorities at 623-7070 or the Prisons Hotline at 800-PRSN (800-7776).