Belize Central Prison

rdf:langString Belize Central Prison

rdf:langString Belize Central Prison is the sole correctional facility in the country of Belize, located in Hattieville. The , a non-profit, non-governmental organization, has managed the prison since 2002. It was formerly known as the Hattieville Prison. Its local nickname is the ‘Hattieville Ramada’. Officials established it as a replacement for a century-old prison that closed and later became the Belize Museum. The prison houses men and women, and it houses adults and adjudicated youths. As of August 12, 2008, the prison had 1,371 prisoners.In June 2017, the total population was 1,297, including pre-trial detainees (30.1%). Belize's incarceration rate is relatively high at 356/100,000. The incarceration rate for females has risen from 8.4 (per 100,000 of national population) in 2000 to 12.6 in 2017. In 2013, researchers from the University of Indianapolis began a project recording the oral histories of staff and inmates at Belize Central Prison to document the historic shift in management from the state to the Kolbe Foundation. To date, the project has collected interviews with 36 staff and 24 female inmates. Initial findings from staff interviews suggest very much improved conditions, a shift in focus from punishment to rehabilitation, and a willingness to hire former offenders and even inmates of the prison. Lower levels of self-reported social distance between staff and inmates seems to be an important factor driving the increased focus on rehabilitation at the prison.